
Class JP_dA.a3_ 
Coipght]^" 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



trbe mribite Eagle 



H Iberoic 2)rama in ffi\>e Hcte. 



^ime 1860 to 1865. 



Scenes laiO in TRew l^orft, Brisona, /ibeiico anO Cbattanooga, 
B Siot^ ot a Society UnciDent During tbe Civil Mar. 



3612 E&warb M. IRigan. 



CopgrigbteO 1901, bp JEdvvarD Wi. IR^an. 



springfield, ohio 

The Democrat Co., Printer. 

1901. 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS 

Two Copies Received 

MAY. 13 1901 

COPVmGHT ENTRY 

CLASS^^XXc. N» 
COPY B. 



T6C 



-?>: 



-/ 



r.i?' 



CAST OF CHARACTERS. 



Martin Bryant — Wealthy Broker and Contractor, Edward's 

Father. 
Jose Delmour — Martin Bryant's Partner. 
George Coles — Martin Bryant's Confidential Clerk, a vil- 

lian in the ^uise of a friend. 
Miguel VivANCO — A Mexican Cattle King and a Villain. 
Ned Bryant — A Son of Martin Bryant, The White Eagle. 
Charles Ford — A Suitor favored by Nell Bryant, a big and 

unpretentious fellow, brave and chivalric. 
Carlos Vivanco — A Brother to Miguel Vivanco, a Captain of 

Brigands, and a Suitor for Lasca's hard. 
Barney O'Neil — A Porter and Trusty Servant in the Bryant 

Mansion. A comical genius. 

A Colored Lad who is always in Trouble. 

A Rough but Kind Hearted Kecruiting 

Ofiicer. 

In Recruiting Office. 

In Recruiting Ofiice. 

A Porter in the House of Vivanco. 

An Ofiice Page and Successor to Barney in 

the Bryant Mansion, 

Neo's Histei, a Brave litde Girl. 

A Little Mexican Senorita, with whom Ned 

Falls in. Love at First Sight. 
Dona Martinez— A pahjp,.er'i>us >Yo*nan. 
Officer — New York Service. 

News Boy — Chattanooga. 

Secretary — In Recruiting Office. 

Officers, Soldiers and Citizens. 



Sam — 
Colonel Bluff 

Operator — 
Orderly — 

CORTEZ — 

Nelson Griggs 

Nell Bryant— 
Lasca Lopez — 



THE WHITE EAGLE. 



ACT I— Scene 1. 
Office of Bryant & Delmour, Brokers and Contractors, 
New York City. A desk with easy chair and clerk's desk 
with high stool. At desk with easy chair sits Martin Bryant 
opening morning's mail with ^paper cutter. At high clerk's 
desk sits Geo. Coles busily scratching away with a pen. He 
glances over his shoulder at the letter in his employer's 
hand, after the clip of the knife tells of the opening of an 
envelope. This inquisitive young man is the confidential 
clerk and adviser of Martin Bryant, a villain in the guise of a 
friend. 

Martin Bryant — illuming to Coles.) George, has Mr. 
Delmour come yet ? 

Geo. Coles — No, sir ; it is but 8 o'clock, and Mr. Delmour 

never shows up before 9. 

Martin Bryant — It is impossible for me to see how one can 
lay abed till this hour of the morning. If 
I myself were to indulge in such an excess 
of sleep, I would be no good the whole day. 

Geo. Coles — But, sir; 1 think you are mistaken as re- 

gards Mr. Delmour indulging in the ex- 
cesses of sleep. I am certain it is quite 
the opposite. Last night I could not sleep 
because of aching limbs. I arose from my 
bed, dressed myself and went down into the 
street for a breath of fresh &ir about 3 
o'clock. Not having any destination in 
particular, I strolled dov n toward Del- 
monico's. Hearing the shouts and 

laughter of merry makers. I concluded to 
enter. It did not at all surprise me to find 
your son Ned and Charles Ford within at 
that hour of the morning in the company 
of Casino girls. 



- 4— 

MARTm Bryant — What! Not surprised to find my son Ned 
and Charles Ford in Delmonico's at that 
hour of the morning in the company of 
Casino girls'? 

Geo. Coles — {Feigning surprise.) What! Impossible! 

Do I understand that you are not aware 
of your son's ni^ht prowling: ? 

Martin Bryant — My God ! I am likely to hear anything of 
late. That boy will yet drive me mad. 

Geo. Coles — , Oh! I thought you were well aware of 
these little larks. Why, they are the talk 
of society. Had I thought I was breaking 
news to you, I assure you I would have 
been the last person on earth to burden 
you with the young gentleman's misde- 
meanors. With your permission I will de- 
cline to be further instrumental in carrying 
tales. 

Martin Bryant — No, no, man, continue. I may as well hear 
the worst from the lips of a friend in 
private as to have it poked at me in society. 

Geo. Coles — Well, sir; as I said I was not surprised to 
find Ned and Charlie tossing off champa«gne 
at that hour of the morning. But was 
very, very much surprised to see Mr. 
Delmour drinking to the success of a 
Casino girl. 

Martin Bryant — No matter about Mr. Delmour. That is his 
own affair. He can go to the devil if he 
wishes, as long as he attends strictly to 
business. Give Nelson orders to admit no 
one before 9 o'clock without first an- 
nouncing them ; then return. I have much 
to say to you. God knows I need advice. 
What you have told me is not the first I 
have heard of my son's disgraceful conduct. 
For since my return from Europe, strange 
and disagreeable facts have reached me, 
even through the mail as regards him. 

Geo. Coles — {As he stands with his hand on the door 

knoh. Aside.) That was an easy victory. 



-5— 

I have not sown the seed on barren rock. 
Now to reap ray harvest. Ha I Mi'truel 
Vivanco; little you thought I w^ould be 
able to carry out your plans at such an 
early date. {Exit.) 

Martin Bryant — (As he paces up and down the room.) An 
honest and trustworthy fellow that. What 
would I not give if Edward were like him 
instead of the reckless scapegrace and 
spendthrift that he is. But I fear I have 
already let him go too far. It makes my 
blood boil within my veins and my heart 
thump my ribs with the unsteady stroke of 
indignation as it were, pumping away 
parental love and k^'ndness from my bosom 
But he shall not disgrace his family. I had 
rather follow his remains to the grave than 
let him so brand his soul with the indelible 
mark orf such a sin. (Sits down.) 

Geo. Coles — (Enter.) Sir, your orders will be carried 

out to the letter. Nelson is below in the 
hall. 

Martin Bryant — Good ! I will at once proceed to business. 
Sit here by my side so that ^ e may both be 
at our ease. 

Geo. Coles — Anything to please you and be of service to 

you, sir. But one favor I would like to ask 
before we go further. 

Martin Bryant — Well, what is it? 

Geo. Coles — Do not let on that I was instrumental in 

carrying t^les, for I assure you I thought 
you were familiar with these little affairs 
or I would never havelow^ered myself to the 
contemptible position of t^le bearer. 

Martin Bryant — I'he favor you ask shall be granted, for I 
do not think you guilty of carrying such 
tales with the view of causing disturbance. 

Geo. Coles — Thank you, sir. 

Martin Bryant — All I want of you, Georire, is to answer 
truthfully any question I may see fit to put 
to you as regards my j-on. 



-6— 

Geo Coles — Have you ever rauo;ht me in a falsehood, 

sir? 

Martin Bryant — No, George, my boy, and I hope I never shall. 
I believe you to be as honest as the sun, 
otherwise I would not trust you or confide 
in you. 

Geo Coles — Thank you, ^ir. 1 will try to make myself 

wortliy of your tru^t. (Aside.) Until I 
have attair.ed my end. It looks like a pity 
to impose on such an easy mark. 

JMartin Bryant — Here is a letter bearing; the post mark of 
Coahuila, Mexico. It comes from a friend 
of mine whom perhaps you have met, as he 
\^as here on a visit about a year ag;o, re- 
mained about a month, and returned to 
Mexico, in which time he was the social 
lion of New YorU. It is said he is fabu- 
lously rich. His name, as you see signed at 
the bottom of this page, is of Mexican or 
Spanish origin — Miguel Vivanco. Finding 
him to be an honest as well as a shrewd 
business man, I took the opportunity after 
much persuasion on his part, to invest forty 
thousand dollars in cattle. I sent Edward 
to Mexico to investigate the cattleman's 
standing. I presume you remember. 

Geo. Coles — That I do, sir, very well. 

Martin Bryant — Edward returned after six month's absence 
with papers showing the Mexican to be a 
cattle king worth millions. But as to his 
personal character, the boy brought un- 
favorable reports. 

Geo. Coles — And you accepted them as the truth? 

Martin Bryant — At first I was somewhat inclined that way, 
and was myself preparing to go to Mexico 
to inquire into the matter. In the mean- 
time a letter com^^s telling me to be careful 
of my son (enter Ned^ Jose Delmour and 
Charles Ford; on hearing reference made to 
himself^ Ned stpps within the door and 
listens to conversation^ Delmour and Charles 



— 7— 



<teo. Coles — 



Chables Ford — 



Oeo. Coles- 



Martin Bryant 



draw hack behind curtain) whose youth and 
inexperience would yet cause much trouble 
for me. The writer then went on to tell 
how Ned had met and fallen in love with a 
beautiful young Mexican woman, but of low 
birth and still lower habits. He says she 
completely captured his heart through 
cunning and deceit, and when he (Vivanco) 
tried to give him advice, Edward became 
angry and insulted him. Yivanco insin- 
uated that if he were a gentleman he would 
offer an apology for the iLsult. The final 
result was that Edward challenged him to a 
duel. Vivanco claims he tried to talk the 
boy out of this idea, but the headstrong lad 
that he is, would not listen. The Mexican, 
thinking Edward knew little of sword prac- 
tice, chose the foils as the weapons of com- 
bat, thus thinking to avoid bloodshed and 
retain our friendship. But to his sorrow 
Edward proved an expert swordsman, and 
though he wounded Vivanco in the side, he 
finally managed to block him, sparing his 
life only on account of his youth and my 
friendship. So I at once, seeing the cause 
of the boy's hatred toward the Mexican, de- 
sisted frofii further investigation. 
It is the truth, sir. A bosom friend of 
mine witriessed the combat, and describes 
the issue in just such a manner, with 8enor 
Vivanco entirely on the defensive. (Here 
Ned is about to confront Coles but Charles 
catches him by the shoulders.) 

{Aside to Ned.) Hold, Ned; he may lie 

some more nnd if you want to get next to 

the plot you would do well to lay low 

awhile. See! 

I myself kT)ovv N\^(l to be very insulting and 

aiTiiressive, esppi lally when he is drinking 

heavily. 

Drinking henvily ! My God ! What next? 



Geo. Coles- 



Ned Bryant- 



Charles FORD- 

JosE Delmour- 
Ned Bryant — 

George Coles- 
Ned Bryant — 



Martin Bryant — 

Oeorge Coles — 
Ned Bryant — 
Martin Bryant- 



{Ned again makes a move toward Coles; 
Charlie again detains him.) 
Why, sir, is that new to you? I met him 
one night at Coney Island, as important 
business detained me till late. Alice Ford 
was with him, and bot^h were flushed with 
wine and very loud. 

( Wrenches himself free from Charles and 
springs upon Coles, catches him hy the 
throat.) You miserable, lying wretch; I 
will wrench the lying throat out of you. 
( Charles and Delmour catch Ned and hreak 
his hold.) 

Ned do not be rash. Think of what you 
are doing. 

Cool down my boy. I know it is hard to bear. 
Enough ! Enough ! I say gentlemen, re- 
lease my arms. You know the cur is lying. 
It is the truth ; if the shoe didn't fit, you 
wouldn't wear it. 

(^Charlie and. Delmour still hold on.) I 
stood back and listened to your lies about 
myself, but when it comes to implicating^ 
The honor of a woman who is too pure and 
honorable to look at the likes of yourself,, 
you have cut the cord of my endurance. 
Utter another word, and I swear I'll kill 
you ! 

Edward ! Enough of this disgraceful con- 
duct in my presence; it is humiliating 
enough to know that I have raised surh a 
son. 

What I have told your father was all meant 
for your own good. 

{Again shakes himself free and is again 
ahout to catch Coles.) » 

Edward! I said enough. [Ned does not 
heed him., and Martin strikes Ned with a 
cane. Ned wrenches it from his grasp^ and 
is about to throw it aside ^ when Charlie 
hrings him, to his senses hy calling his 
name) 



Charles Ford — 
Ned Bryant — 



Ned ! Ned ! 



{Bowing, hands his father the cane.) 
Father, I beg your pardon. All that this 
man has been telling you is a contempti- 
ble lie — a plot contrived by Vivanco to 
pull the wool over your eyes, and keep you 
from investigating into the affairs of this 
human fiend, whose ill gotten wealth has 
enabled him to pull the wool over many 
another easy-going, unsuspecting Eastern- 
er's eyes. I had an idea all along that 
Yivanco was up to something. I now see it 
all. You {pointing to Coles) are a tool in 
the hands of Vivanco. This devil, who, 
like a whining cur, begged for mercy at 
the point of my' sword, after having tried 
to murder me. Fool that I was, to listen 
to his whinin^:. But a day of reckoning 
will come. We shall meet again, and when 
we do, I promise you that society will be 
well rid of one of the most cruel, cold- 
blooded scoundrels that ever bought a seat 
therein. {To Coles.) You will please 
leave the room ; your presence is no longer 
required. {Coles does not move.) Or, if 
you would have it in plainer language, I 
have something to say to father which is 
none of your business. 

Martin Bryant — Enough ! Enough I How dare you de- 
nounce my nearest and dearest friends in 
my very presence. Besides, you can have 
nothing to say to me that cannot be said 
in the presence of a tried friend. 
Well, father, it will remain unsaid. 

lienceforth you are no child of mine ! This 

very day's mail bears tidings of forgery on 

your part of my name, on the state bank of 

Ooahuila. 

Father, explain yourself; you must be 

mad ! 



Ned Bryant — 
Martin Bryant 



Ned Bryant- 



—10— 

Martin Bryant — What ! J mad? If I be mad, 'tis you who 
have driven me to it. 

Charles Ford — But, my dear Mr. Bryant, you cannot con- 
demn your son on the word of Vivanco and 
a clerk whom I myself know to be lying. 

Jose Delmour — Mr. Bryant, if I were in your place, I would 
investigate the case before conaemning the 
accused. 

Martin Bryant — Investigate ! Investigate ! • Why, man, 
his scandalous behavior is the common talk 
of society. Of course, you fellows, who are 
his chums, will stick up for him. You are 
both as bad as himself. 

Ned Bryant — If my conduct be the talk of society, that 
man {pointing to Coles) is the instigator. 

Martin Bryant — I say he is not ! He did not instigate forg- 
ery on the state bank of Coahuila. 
{Here Charlie and Delmour hecome dis- 
gusted loith the old man and exit.) 

Ked Bryant — Some more of that Mexica«n fiend's work. 
He is bound to ruin me, and turn my 
darling froni me. But no ! He may turn 
my father from me, there are two hearts 
whose glow will ever cast their warmth 
upon me. One, my dark-eyed little beauty, a 
product of the far southwest, who is as 
brave and as noble as she is beautiful. 
The other, little sister Nell. 

Martin Bryant — Away from my sight and never let me lay 
eves on you again. You have disgraced 
the name. I give you permission to cross 
my threshold but once more, then to gath- 
er tfigether your belongings and go where 
no one knows you to be my son. 

Ned Bryant — You are master, and your will must be 
done; but, mark my word^, father, I shall 
some day prove my innocence. I hope 
your conscience justifies your proceedings* 
Farewell until that time doth come. {Ned 
hows exit.) ■ C2/rtai?i or dark shift. 



-11- 

ACT I— Scene 2. 

Drawing room of the Bryant mansion. Nell is sitting in 
chair; Charlie standing behind her. He has broke the news 
of Ned's misfortune, she is weeping, he is trying to comfort 
her. 



Charles Ford- 



Nell Bryant — 



Charles Ford- 



Nell Bryant- 



Charles Ford- 
Nell Bryant — 



Come now, Nell, be as brave a little girl as 
you have always been. I know things are 
in a sad plight. They cannot be remedied, 
so we must do the next best thing and wait 
for an opportunity to prove Ned's innocence. 
{Dona Martinez here J9<^,96'e5 the door. 
Charlie turns at the rustle of garments) 
I'ray who is the dark complected lady ; I 
forgot to ask you as I came in. I passed 
her in the hall on entering, and now she 
just paused at the door and looked in as 
though in sf ar^h oi some one. 
{Rises quickly and looks up and down the 
hall.) Charli'-, are you sure she stopped 
and looked in ? 

My peepers seldom deceive me, Nell. Six 
years in Uncle Sam's navy, have drawn 
them out even to the point of keenness. 
Who is the woman, any way? I cannot 
remember ever having seen her before. 
You know her about as well as I do, Charlie. 
1 never saw her in my life before this morn- 
ing, when fatlier introduced her as the new 
house-keeper. You know. Madam Stuart 
went to keep house for an aged uncle who 
16 lately bereaved, as he is an invalid, she 
thought it her duty to take care of him the 
littli while he has yet to live. 
What is the new mistress's name? 
Dona Martinez, Sp^inish lady, as she says, 
lately out from Spain. Where father got 
her God only kiuiws, 1 don't, though, 1 sup- 
pose, at some intelligence office. I do not 
at all like her ways. She makes herself 
too familiar for a stranger, and the servants 



—12- 

are all complaining of her treatment al- 
ready. Oh, Charlie; why does Ned not 
come? I fear he will do something rash in 
his ang;er. He will stand a great deal of 
torment; but if he is driven to bay, he is 
like a caged tiger, suddenly finding itself 
free from the bars only to be confronted 
by bloodhounds, fights with the desperation 
of despair for the freedom which God 
meant for it. 

Charles Ford — I do not think he will do anything unbe- 
coming to a gentleman. He had cooled 
down considerably before I left him, other- 
wise, I would not have left him. 

Dona Martinez — (Enter.) Pardon me, Senorita ; but what 
time will I order luncheon? You know, 
you must be a little patient with me, as 
this is my first day. After I get acquaint- 
ed with the daily routine, I will not be so 
bothersome. 

Nell Bryant — Luncheon for two at twelve ; father does 
not come home at noon. We take dinner 
in the evening together at seven. 

Dona Martinez — {Bows exit. Turns and looks suspiciously 
at Charlie. ) 

Charles Ford — Nell, I myself, do not like the looks of that 

, woman. She has mischief in her eye. I 

advise you to be careful of your remarks 

in her presence. (^Ned enters. Charlie 

comes over and stands in door.) 

Nell Bryant — Ned! What has befallen father? 

Ned Bryant — You have heard? Nell, do you believe me 
guilty? Coles, the lying scoundrel, has 
spread the scandal in society ; still, you do 
not believe me guilty ? 

Nell Bryant — No, no; Ned! God forbid. 1 know you 
too well for that. Society ! What care I 
for society, if through it I am to lose my 
brother? If the whole world were to con- 
demn you on such evidence, I would still 
cling to you and call you brother. 

Charles Ford — Spoken like a heroine ! 



Ned Bryant — 



Charles Ford- 



Ned Bryant- 



- 13— 

Nell, dear, I am sorry for your sake. If I 
never turn up again, follow this little piece 
of advice: Never let yourself be sold into 
matrimony with the man you do not love. 
Marry the man you love if he has but one 
suit of clothes to his back and but a dollar 
in his pocket. Try to follow the teachings 
of our poor dead mother, who now sleeps 
peacefully among the wild flowers 
on the hillside. Oh I those hills she 
loved so well in childhood. Little sis- 
ter, do you not remember how we used to 
sit and listen as she smoothed your golden 
locks and looked proudly into our childish, 
wondering eyes ; her own glowing with a 
mother's pride. Ah, Nell ! those were 
happy days. This summer, if you pay a 
visit to the old New Hampshire hills, in the 
cool of the summer evening as you stroll 
with the wild flowers to the churchyard, 
say my share of the prayers, as you make 
the floral offering. I will come back to you 
some day, Nell ; this deception which has 
entangled father in its jealous nets, cannot 
go on forever. As the old saying goes, 
"Murder will out." This case will not be 
an exception to the rule. I have friends in 
New York. For instance, Charlie, here, 
who, I am certain, will work untiringly till 
they steer my name beyond the danger 
which obscures it from society in the fog of 
suspicion. 

Right you are, Ned ; though this fog may 
be deeper than any I have ever encoun- 
tered on either of the two oceans ; and I 
have sailed both the broad Atlantic and 
the turbulent Pacific. I was never known 
to lose a man or desert a ship in action or 
in storm. And you can depend on me that 
I'll not lose this one. ISee! 
Charlie, how can I ever repay you for your 
friendsh p? 



— 14— 

Charles Ford — I ask no pay, Ned. Friendship is akin to 
love and comes from the heart. 

Ned Bryant — Good bye, Nell. 

Nell Bryant — Oh ! Ned, you cannot go ! 

Ned Bryant — But little sister, you do not understand; I 
must go. I will go to the far west where 
every man stands a show, there to run 
chances of success and fortune with hun- 
dreds of other?. I will write to you and 
let you know of my whereabouts. 

Nell Bryant — Oh! Ned, do not go; it will break my 
heart ! This outburst of fathers is only 
momentary. I dare say he has already 
repented his folly and is now on his way 
here to ask your forgiveness and take back 
the cruel words he ha* spoken in the hour 
of anger. There did I not tell you so. 

Martin Bryant — (Enter.) Edward, why do you linger here. 
I am done with you forever. You have dis- 
graced the name of Bryant. Insulted my 
dearest friends ; ay, even sought to murder 
them. 

Nell Bryant — But, father — 

Martin Bryant — Silence ! Forged my name to notes, checks 
and official papers. If your belongings 
have been made ready, go I (Points to the 
door. ) 

Nell Bryant — But father you cannot believe him guilty 
of such contemptible deeds. Think of — 

Martin Bryant — Silence, girl! He is capable of almost 
anything. 

Charles Ford — Mr. Bryant, have you considered that there 
is always two sides to a case. 

Martin Bryant — 1 have already shown him too much con- 
sideration ; so do not irritate me with a 
defense. I will not listen. 

Ned Bryant — (Clasp hands, Charlie.) Good bye, Charlie ! 

(Exit Charles.) 
Charles Ford — Good bye, Ned, and good luck. 



—15— 

Ned Bryant — Good bye, Nell {in a heart broken sob) and 
may God bless you. (Nell faints entirely 
aioay. ) 

Martin Bryant — But hold ! I will not send you into the 
world penniless. Here is five hundred 
dollars. The further away you ^et the 
better for us both. 

Ned Bryant — What ! You offer me money. No, father ; 
keep your money. I am no slave to be 
bought or sold. I have enough yet from 
my last year's allowance to carry me to the 
end of my destination. Then I can work 
for an honest living. But remember^ 
father, I give you due warning. Beware 
of that dark skinned Mexican scoundrel. 
He is playing a deep game to win Nell's 
hand. He wishes first to get you financially 
in his power. Nell does not love him. Her 
heart is already given to another — as noble 
a fellow as ever walked in shoe leather. 
Vivanco is incapable of pure love, and be. 
fore he carries off my sister to a life of 
misery he will walk over the dead body of 
Charlie Ford as well as that of my own. 
Father, a last farewell, and may God for- 
give you for this rash act as I do. {Ned 
hows exit Martin stands 'pointing to the 
door.) Curtain 

ACr II— Scene 1. 

Drawing room in the Bryant mansion, same as in 
Act I — Scene 2. Two weeks later. The curtain goes up 
with Barney and the colored boy Sam busily dusting. 

Barney O'Neil — Well, Sam, me Black Doimond, sure and 
phat do ye's think of the new house kaper. 
Sure the foine lady rung mesilf out of bid 
three toimes last noight. First it was oice 
wather she was afther wantin'. I had 
hardly got won aye shut whin ding-a-ling-a 
ling wint the divil of a bell agin, and phat 
do ye's think she was afther wantin' thin? 



- 16- 

Sam — Lord, Massa Barney, I can't guess, unless it 

was, it was, watermillion. 

Barney O'Neil — Ga lang now, ga lang wid ye, and phat 
would the loikes of her want wid wather- 
millen. 

Sam — {Lips smack loudly.) Dats the best I kin 

do, boss. You'll have to guess agin, and 
member what it was yoself. Dis coon 'ill 
still hab a guess a comin'. 

Barney O'Neil — The oice wather must a give the foine lady 
the stumach ache ; for the second orther 
was brandy, and a divil a sup did she offer 
me either. I wint to bid the second toime 
wid me clothes on. 'Twas well I did, too, 
for it was not long till the bludy bell 
sounded again, and oh, snakes. 

Sam — Wot's de matter, boss ; has you done gone 

got 'em. 

Barney O'Neil— Got phat? 

Sam — Snakes, of co'se, bose. 

Barney O'Neil — Ga lang wid ye, now, or faith I'll be afther 
takin' that v/oolly plumage of yours for a 
pin cushion. 

Sam — Oh ! I see, boss. The new mistress don 

had snakes. 

Barney O'Neil — A divil bit of snakes. She asked for 
cegaroots, and I bad to be afther goin' clear 
to the Huffman House afther thim for her. 
I wint to bid thin, and how many toimes 
she tried to ring the divil of a bell afther 
that I do not know, for before 1 lay down I 
detached the wire from the bell and says to 
mesilf, says I : Let the scalpeen ring till she 
turns green in the face. (Door hellri7igs.) 
O, ftaith, there goes the door bell. (Exit 
Barney.) 

Sam — Dar, was de best joke di-* nigger has heard 

for a yeai. (Her^ Dona Martinez is about 
to enter ^ hut stops to listen to what Sam is 
saying.) De new mistress is likely to be 
gitten Sam out ob bed tonight wid de bell. 



- 17 — 

Dis nigger e'll fool de old lady from de 
start by unfastening the bell wire he! 
he : he ! 
Dona Martinez — Oh, you will, will you, {catches Sam hy the 
ear) fool the old lady by detaching the bell 
wire. We'll see about that, you impudent, 
black scoundrel. As a punishment, you 
will stand outside my room door from 
8 to 12 tonight, and if you forget that you 
i.ve on duty and go to sleep I'll give you a 
sound thrashing in the morning. 
Sam — Dis poor nigger done gone got his foot in 

it. right now. 
Dona Martinez — Walk along now, you black scamp; go to 
the stable and order the carriage for me, to 
be ready at 8 o'clock, sharp ; do you hear. 
Sam — Yes, mum, I hear. {Aside.) I'd be deaf 

if I didn't. (Exit.) 
Dona Martinez — The deception is complete, There is n@t a 
poul in the household who has the least 
suspicion of my purpose. Ha I Seiior 
Vivanco ! You couJd not have put a better 
spy in a better place. I even find it better 
sailing than I had at first expected. I will 
even keep it so close that you yourself will 
not get a word out of me until you have, 
as promised, placed ten thousand dollars in 
this hand. Mercy, but this is a lively 
place. There is even more excitement 
here for the past two weeks than there is 
on the cattle range in the round up season. 
(A footstep in the hall.) There is some 
one coming. I had better hold my tongue. 
[Enter Nell.) How do you feel this even- 
ing, Miss Bryant? 
Nell Bryant — 1 feel much better this evening, thank you. 
Dona Martinez — Shall I order you a cup of tea? A good cup 
of tea will soothe your nerves, or perhaps 
a glass of wine. 
Nell Bryant — You may send Barney up with a glass of 
wine. {Dona Martinez exit.) I wonder 



-18 

if I can ever shake off this horrible fit of 
melancholy. I never felt so stupid in ail 
my life. 

Barney O'Neil — {Brings in bottle and glasses.) Shall I 
pour it for you, Miss? 

Nell Bryakt — Yes, Barney ; just a little in the glass. It 
may revive my spirits a little. 

Barney O'Neil — {As he pours out loine.) That it will, Miss. 
It will be afoher puttin' spirits into you. 

NiLL Bryant — You may go, now Barney ; but hold ! Here 
is for your trouble. {Hands Mm a coin.) 

Barney O'Neil — Thank you, Miss, {.^side.) Now, do yez 
see thot? The new mistress would be 
afther gettin' one up at midnight, and 
niver say as much as thank you, Barney, 
for your trouble, let alone puttin' a quarter 
in me fist. {Exit Barney.) 

Nell Bryant — I wonder where poor Ned is tonight. It 
does not at all seem like home since he 
left. It was an unlucky day for this house 
when father sent him off. It is now over 
two weeks since he left home, and as 
yet I have heard nothing of him. Father, 
too, has changed wonderfully. He used to 
come home of evenings before dark, and 
was always ready to greet me with a smile 
and a kiss on his lips. Now he lingers at 
the oflice till long after business hours. 
Then he sits in the library, his face buried 
in a newspaper, hardly noticing me when I 
go to greet him with the accustomed kiss. 

Barney O'Neil— {Enter.) Miss Nell, Masther Ford awaits 
your pleasure in the hall. 

Nell Bryant — Admit him, Barney. 

Barney O'iVeil — Faith and thin I will. 'Tis the loikes of 
him I loikes to bring into the fair Mistresses 
presence. 

Nell Bryant — {Smiles pleasantly on ^Barney.) Be off" 
with you, now, and bring him to me. 
{Barney hows exit. Enter Charles Ford.) 

Charles Ford — Good evening, Nell. 



19- 



Nell Bryant — 



Nell Bryant — Good eveniiiir, Charlie. 

Charles Ford — 1 have news for you, NelJ. {Rands her 
leller,) 

Nell Bryant— Oh ! 'tis from Ned. (Kisses envelope.) Oh I 
Charlie ; you don't know how I have 
watched and longed for this. I hope it 
brings good new?, 1 am not superstitious, 
Charlie ; but last night I had a dream which 
I would like you to interpret for me. 
Well, in fact, it was more like a vision 
than a dream. 

Charles Ford — Well, Nell ; I myself befng: a sailor, am the 
least bit superstitious ; po let out sail ard 
put the good ship's head to the wind. You 
will find me very attentive while on the 
quarter deck. See! 

Well, Charlie, to begin with do you re- 
member Ned's little sketch of our happy 
childhood in New Hampshire ; with what 
bej^uty he pictured it that fatal day in this 
very room. 

How could I forget it, Nell? 
I went through all that in my sleep last 
night. After you brought me heme from 
the theatre, 1 went straight to my room. I 
was nervous and restless. I threw myself 
on the lounge and fell into a troubled 
sleep. How long I was asleep I cannot tell. 
Anyway, I found myself aboard a ship, a 
storm was raging on the deep, the wind 
whistled through the rigging as though it 
would tear the sails to ribbons, and tremen- 
dous waves rose like huge mountains, 
threatening to engulf the ship at every 
plunge. Then a whole fleet loomed up 
before my imaginative vision. Fog horns 
and danger signals were heard on all sides. 
But. strange to say, every ship in the fleet 
seemed dark and forboding; massive dark 
muzz ed guns werr^ mounted on all sides of 
us. Our ship alone was as white as iiswan. 



Charles Ford- 
Nell Bryant — 



—20— 

and at her mast alone floated the stars and 
stripes. I could hear your voice above the 
storm as you shouted orders to the crew. 
Ned was at the wheel. I stood by his 
side. His face wore a troubled look and 
he gripped the wheel with the grim deter- 
mination of despair. Every way he 
seemed to turn he was covered by the 
dark muzzled guns of the black fleet. 
Gradually the careworn look began to fade 
from his face, as the fog began to rise and 
the storm subside. One by one the dark 
ships began to drop in the rear till not one 
obstructed our path. And, O, what joy, the 
ocean became as smooth as glass, and the 
stars and stripes fluttered peacefully in the 
soft breeze. Our ship alone glided along 
as smoothly as a sail boat on a mill pond. 
Then I heard you distinctly say : ''1 have 
sailed these waters for six long years and 
never lost a man, or deserted a ship in 
action or in storm. This one is no excep- 
tion, though the roughest sea and the great- 
est odds I have ever before encountered." 
Then we sailed smoothly into port. The 
scene was traasformea. I found myself 
back in the old New Hampshire hills. 
Mother was with us. We sit by her side. 
You were with us too, Charlie. 
Charles Ford — Well, I hope so. 

Nell Bryant — And seemed as happy as Ned and myself. 
Again mother smoothed my flowing hair 
and looked proudly into our wondering 
eyes. Oh, Charlie ; nature seeme j so 
beautiful around us. The birds sang till 
their little throats puffed out like hedge 
balls. Even the flowers seemed to whisper 
words of love and happiness. All was so 
real, that after I had awakened I could 
hardly persuade myself that it all had 
been a dream. Now, my superstitious' 



—21- 

Jack Tar, can you interpret ray dream 
satisfactorily. (Dona Martinez stands he- 
hind curtain.) 

Charles Ford — That I can, Nell. Nothing could be 
plainer. That sea on which we sailed is the 
sea of life. The world with all its sin and 
crime, watching for every opportunity to 
engulf the character of man in its deiDths 
The black fleet which obstructed our path 
was corrupt society, whose sole object is to 
entangle the character in its nets. The 
raging element^s represent the power of 
conspiracy. The fog, the screen beneath 
which it veils its crime. The svv^an-like 
ship was Ned's character, which I pledged 
myself to steer clear of danger. The 
crew of the good ship his friends. The 
smooth sea and the leaving of the black 
fleet is a token that he will outstrip his 
enemies and all will be clear sailing in the 
end. Though the voyage will be a long and 
tedious one. We will sail proudly into 
port victorious with the stars and stripes 
floating peacefully at the mast head. The 
scene in the old New Hampshire hills is a 
token that we will all be as happy as ever 
we were. Nell, Ned will sail in here some 
day covered with glory. 

Nell Bryant — {Fours out ivine.) Charlie, you give me 
hope which I dare not have before. You 
make me feel quite like myself again- 
Here, drink to the speedy fulfillment of 
your prophecy. ( T/ie two drink.) 

Dona Martinez — I wonder what they are talking about. It 
sounds so like a romance. 

Nell Bryant — Now, I will read the letter. I hope it does 
not dampen and wilt our fondest hopes. 
( Opens letter. Dona Martinez again draios 
back hehind curtain to listen.) Tell me, 
Charlie, before I read has all went well 
with him? 



€harles Ford- 



Nell Bryant — 



Charles Ford — 

Nell Bryant — 
Charles Ford — 

Nell Bryant — 



Charles Ford — 

Dona Martinez- 
Nell Bryant — 

Dona Martinez — 

Nell Bryant — 



-22— 

You bet your life, Nell. He is too fine a 
chap for any wrong to come to him so 
soon. But what is the use of my prating, 
read for yourself. 

{Opens lettei'-) Tombstone, Arizona, May 
10, 1860. Dear Little Sister : As I know 
you will be impatient to bear from me, I 
take this opportunity to inform you of my 
safe arrival in Tombstone. Please do not 
worry about me. I am in the best of 
spirits and health. 

See ! Didn't I tell you. I didn't open that 
letter at all. I just guessed it. Well in 
fact, I knew it. 

(Continues.) But yesterday I received a 
long letter from Lasca. 

That's that lucky little Senorita whose 
dark eyes captured his heart. Ain't it» 
Nell? 

Yes, Charlie; that's her. {Continues 
letter.) Who, though ^he has never had 
the pleasure of your acquaintance, pictures 
you as she could not do otherwise, as a pure 
sweet little sister whom she longs to know 
and love. 

Right again, Nell. {And slyly steals a 
kiss.) How often have I told you that, 
Nell. 

•(Aside.) Senor. Vivanco, I think your 
chances are slim for that lady. 
She reads your character from your letter. 
She also tells me that Vivanco is on his 
way to the States. 

{Aside.) Oh ! he is, is he? He thinks he 
will steal a march on me. Well, I'll be 
prepared for him. 

(Continues-) So, beware of him, little 
sister. No good can come of him. Confide 
in Charlie, and if the Mex^'can bothers you 
refer the matter to him. Do not write to 
me here, as 1 leave tomorrow with a 



23- 



Oharles Ford — 



Nell Bryant- 
Charles Ford- 



Nell Bryant- 



Charles Ford- 



Nell Bryant- 



Charles Ford- 



Nell Bryant- 



prospecting party for New Mexico. Your 
aiFectionate brother, Ned. {Dona Marti- 
nez exit,) 

You heard what your big brother said — 
confide in me. Oh, Lord ! What I will do 
to that sjreaser will be a plenty. 
Oh, Charlie, you are always joking. 
Well, little sweet heart, I will be serious. 
What do you think of this Vivanco alfair, 
anyway ? 

I fear him not as far as myself is con- 
cerned. I fear he has mischief in his 
head concerning father's affairs. I mis- 
trust Dona Martinez. I do not believe she 
is a European at all. I think she is a 
Mexican. But father is too blind to see 
things as I do. You know he favors 
Vivanco as a suitor for my hand. 
You have confirmed fears which I have en- 
tertained from the first time I ever saw 
this woman. Thar is why I warned you to 
be careful in her presence. To tell you the 
tiuth, I believe Vivanco knows more of 
her presence and her purposes than we have 
any idea. 

That is exactly my own opinion. She is a 
spy. I had rather die than wed such a be- 
ing as Vivanco. 

I am not the least bit afraid of him 
carrying you off, Nell. You are too 
precious a piece of property. 1 will 
keep my weather eye on that fine gen- 
tleman, and if he starts any of his foolish- 
ness around here, just give me the high 
sign, and he'll think every cow puncher in 
Texas is on his trail, and we'll make him 
cross the border so fast that the grass 
won't grow in his foot prints for the next 
two years to come. See! That's me, Nell. 
How often have I told you not to use that 



24— 



word see after every expression. It sounds^ 
ridiculous. 

Charles Ford — Well, Nell ; I will try to break myself of it. 
I'll try harder after this for your sake. 

Nell Bryant — Where in thp name of goodness did you 
ever get the expression, anyway? 

Charles Ford — Well, I'll tell you. When I was in the 
navy where I spent the greater part of my 
younger days. See! 

Nell Bryant — There it goes again. 

Charles Ford — Well, I stopped, didn't I? As I was going 
to say when I was in the navy se — all 
the boys used the expression. So from 
hearing it so often, I naturally grew inta 
the habit. See! 

Nell Bryant — (Bursts out laughing^ puts her arms coyl'g 
round his neck.) O, you big, dear boy ! 

Charles Ford — Here, now; you'll have me going to head 
Vivanco off, if you do that again. S — 
There ! I knew I would conquer Mr. See ! 
(Nell again laughs slyly., and turns her face 
up inviting a kiss, which Charlie is not slow 
to accept.) Come, Nell, let us be gay; the 
reception is tonight ; we celebrate your 
father's fiftieth birthday, you know. 
I had quite forgotten for the moment. 
Well, no matter; I will try to be gay,, 
though I know it must be quite dull with- 
out Ned. 

(Comes tumbling in.) Say, Miss Nell ; 
very debil is to play down stairs. 
Lew mistress is knockin' t'ings right 
lef. She made dis coon git out ob 
kitchen so fas' dat I done leb de heels 
my shoes on de stai'case. 

Nell Bryant — Why ! what is the matter, Sam ! 

Sam — Oh, de new mistress happen' in jus' in time 

to heah de cook talkin' about her; so she 
done took a foolish notion into her head to 
clean out de place, an' she come putty neah 
done doin' it, too. (Charlie laughs at Sam.} 



Nell Bryant — 



Sam — 



the 
De 
an' 
dat 
ob 



—25— 

Dat's all right, boss ; dis niggah don' see 
nuttin' to laugh at, an' I guess you wouldn't 
eider, boss, if you were in his place. Why, 
she done hit me on de head wid de rollin^ 
pin. 

Nell Bryant — Go down and attend to your work, Sam, 
and hold your tongue ; if she again bothers 
you. report to me. {Sam exit.) 

Charles Ford — That woman seems to be a holy terror with 
the servants. Had she hit Sam on the shins 
with that rolling pin, there would have 
been a, colored funeral tomorrow. 

Barney O'Neil — ( Comes hurrying in. ) Miss Nell, there 
must be a fire down stahirs, the servants 
aire all runnin' through the house loike a 
pack of fools. 

Nell Bryant — Barney, tell Dona Martinez to report ta 
me at once. 

Barney O'Neil — Faith, and thin I will. (Botes exit.) 

Dona Martinez — (Enter.) Did you wish to see me. Miss? 

Nell Bryant — Yes, madam ; I would like to know what 
all this trouble is about down stairs? 

Dona Martinez — Nothing more than I was rebuking the 
servants. 

Nell Bryant — Well, the next time, please inform me of 
the trouble before you rebuke them with 
the rolling pin. I am mistress of this 
house. Your only duty is to see that the 
servants do their work. If they fail to do 
it, inform me, and I will see what can be 
done to make them do it. 

Dona Martinez — I beg your pardon ; I am accustomed to 
European methods. 

Nell Bryant — Well, please remember after this, that you 
are in America, and while in America, 
must do as Americans do. 

Dona Martinez — 1 will remember what you have said, Miss. 
(Exit.) 

Barney O'Neil — {Enter.) Miss Nell, a dark-skinned gentle- 
man, who looks as though he moight be a 



■■ 26— 

i'oirst cousin of the divil himself, waits in 
the hall for admittance'. 

J^ELL AND Charles — (Simultaneously.) Vivanco ! 

Barney O'Neil— Will I admit him, Miss? Faith I don't at 
all loike the looks of the spalpeen. Faith, 
he pulled me whiskers and asked me how 
long I had been out of the zoo. 

Nell Bryant — Yes. Barney, admit him ; but first call 
father and inform him of the gentleman's 
presence. 

Martin Bryant — {Enters. Nell and Charles stand at win- 
doiv. Martin passes Charles as though he 
were ignorant of his presence.) Nell, pre- 
pare to receive our honored guest, the 
8enor. 

JVliGUEL Vivanco — {Enters. Shakes hand with Martin.) 
Adois, Senor Bryant, and how is the world 
usins you? 

Martin Bryant — Very well. How do you do, Senor Vivanco? 
I am sure myself and my daughter are 
honored by so distinguished a visitor. 
(Barney stands making faces at Vivanco.) 

Miguel Vivanco — (Tosses Barney a coin.) There, begone, 
you baboon. (Barney drops coin on floor., 
spits and stamps his foot in contempt. Nell 
smiles on Barney. Vivanco imagines it to 
he for him; advances arid tries to embrace 
her.) 

Miguel Vivanco — Sunshine of my life, I have come back to 
you. What ! you have nofc forgotten me? 
Have I come all the way from Mexico to be 
snubbed by the woman I love— snubbed by 
the woman whose every action I idolize, 
the subject of my dreams, the light of my 
soul. No ! it cannot be possible ; I will not 
have it so. I will make you love me. 

Nell Bryant — Senor Vivanco, you are familiar to the 
point of insult. 

Charles Ford — Oh, I guess nit; do not presume too much 
upon our good nature. {Places arm around 
NelVs waist and draws up his shoulders in 



- 27- 

defiance.) I have knocked men down for 
less than that, and were it any place else 
but in this house, you should meet a simi- 
lar fate. See ! 

Miguel Vivanco — (Turning to Martin.) So, this is the way 
I am to be treated in your house, is it? 
Well, we shall see ; we shall see. {Barney 
s/ioios head from behind curtain and grins 
mockiiiglg at Vivanco.) 

Miguel Vivanco — Oarraco Pendaco ! {Picks hook from lahle 
and hurls it at Barney's head.) As 
to you, Senor Ford, we shall meet ag:ain, 
and I dare say 'the meeting will be none 
the better for you. You h^ive insulted me 
and I must have satisfaction. 

Charles Ford — At your pleasure, sir. I dare say, it is a 
challenge. But remember, Senor; there 
are some of us Americans who know how 
to use both sword and pistol as well, if not 
better, than many of you foreigners. I 
dare say, you found that out on at least 
one occasion. For further information in- 
quire of my former pupil in the art of 
sword and pistol practice, Mr. Ned Bryant. 
See ! Adois, Senor. I know you must have 
much to say to Mr. Bryant. But, remem- 
ber, I advise you to consider well before 
you challenge the stupid American gringo 
to a duel. S — There, Nell, I came very 
near saying that idiotic word, "See" again, 
all on account of our chivalric friend, the 
Senor. {Exit Nell and Charlie,) 

Miguel Vivanco— Senor Bryant I have been insulted in your 
house, and by a common Gringo at that. 
As to your daughter, she has not the least 
intention of ever marrying me. That big 
clown, Ford, has already hoisted his colors 
over the prize. 

Martin Bryant — Tut I Tut! Senor, you must have a little 
more patience, you are too fast ; she is a 
woman who will not be forced or bought; 



-28— 

you must take things easy and by degrees. 
As to that fellow Ford, you need not 
fear him, for I should never consent to give 
him my daughter's hand in matrimony. 
Why hip income is scarcely enough to keep 
himself let alone an addition of so extrava- 
gant a girl as Nell. {Touches a hell. Bar- 
ney immediately responds.) Barney bring 
a bottle of the best in the cellar and two 
glasses. 

Barney O'Neil — Olaret or sherry, sor? 

Miguel Vivanco — If you know one from the other you aqui- 
line beauty, let it be sherry. 
{Barney does not move at Vivanco^s order.) 

Martin Bryant — Why do you linger Barney, be off and bring 
the wine. 

Barney O'Neil — There is a question before the house, sor; 
as yet I have received no answer from any- 
body. 

Martin Bryant — Begone ! you impudent rascal and bring 
the wine. Let it be sherry and the best in 
the cellar. 

Miguel Vivanco — See that ! 1 am insulted even by the ser- 
vants of your house. 

Martin Bryant — Well, you see, the servants of my house 
are not accustomed to such language as you 
use to them. 

Miguel Vivanco — That is the trouble with you Americans ; 
the slave is on a level with the mas- 
ter. Why, now, you Northerners are about 
to shed the blood of your Southern broth- 
ers, and all to set the nigger free. War is 
all but declared. But, by the way, Bry- 
ant, that will bring a tremendous raise in 
beef, won't it? {RuhMng Ms hands 
joyfully.) Why, man, your money which 
you put into the business will double 
itself if the North and South get to quarrel- 
ing. Well, let them fight. I will steer clear 
of their lead and keep an eye for the more 
precious metals, gold and silver. 



—29— 

{BaDieij enters with wine and glasses^ 

places them on the table and walks backward 

out of the room so as to loatch Vivanco.) 
Miguel Vicanco — Here's success to our enterprise.) {Ihe 

two men drink.) 
Martin Bryant — Now, I will p:o and seek Nell, I will send 

her to you at once ; but take her easy man, 

for she's the very devil if she does but once 

^et started. {Exit Martin Bryant.) 
Miguel Vivanco — {Laughs s cor nf ally.) Send her to me. 

I'll soon find out what can be done with 

the proud little beauty. 
Dona Martinez — (Enter.) Adois Senor Vivanco. Is the 

coast clear? 
Miguel Vivanco — My God, woman, do not let them catch 

you alone with me. Go ! I pray you go, 

and do not come till I give you the signal. 
Dona Martinez — Oh ! Do not be in such a rush Senor. I 

would like to have at least half of that 

ten thousand right now. 
Miguel Vivanco— Go quick ; there is some one coming. I 

will ring three times on the servants' bell 

when the coast is clear. {Exit Dona 

Martinez.) , 
Nell Bryant— (^Enter looking very determined.) Senor 

Vivanco, my father informs me that you 

wish to speak to me. 

MiGVEi^ YiYANco— (jSurveys her coolly as she takes her seat-) 

Nell! ' 
Nell Bryant— Sir ! 
Miguel Vivanco— 1 beg your pardon Senorita. I have come 

to a-^k your hand in matrimony. 
Nell Bryant- Sir! You insult me. Have I not already 

told you that I am engaged to another. 
Miguel Vivanco— Yes, my little spit fire; but can that not 

be broken? I am independently rich. He 

has nothing. He is almost a pauper. 

( Rises and stands hetioee?i her and the door. ) 
Nell Bryant— It you are a gentleman, sir; you will desist 

and let me pass. 
Miguel Vivanco— Ber^oming enraged, advances with clinched 



- 30 

fists. Again I say your engagement can be 
broken. Your answer — yes or no. 

Nell Bryant— What ! Marry the man that ruined my 
brother. No! Never! Not if you were a 
pyramid of 2:old. 

Charles Ford— {Advances from door.) My dear friend, if 
there is anything to be broken here it will 
be your poisonous old wish bone. See! There 
it goes agtain ! I'Jl lick that fellow yet if it 
is only for making me say that idiotic 
word see- ( Exit Nell, followed hy Charles) 
who bows mockingly to Vivanco — ta ! ta ! 
Senor ! 

Miguel Vivanco— (^V^T'^^^^^^ pendoco Americano! (Gives 
Dona Martinez the signal.) She enters at 
once. Well, what do you want, and what 
do you know? 

Dona Martinez— I know nothing until you have placed the 
money in my hand. 

Miguel Vivanco— Give me the desired information before 
you leave this room. You must tell me 
everything that you have heard concerning 
me, since you have been in the house, or I 
will betray you and put you behind the bars 
for blackmail. 

Dona Martinez- Qh ! no you'll not, Senor ! I defy you. I 
dare you to do your worst. Betray me and 
you betray yourself. You are the con- 
spirator. I am only a tool in your hands. 

Miguel Vivanco— But Senor Bryant will not believe you. I 
can implicate another plotter as the chief 
conspirator ; for instance Coles. 

Dona Martinez- Senor Vivanco, I loved you once, and you 
pretended to love me. I loved you so pas- 
sionately that I risked my honor; aye, 
even my soul, in your hands. You married 
me, then deserted me, and betrayed my 
confidence. You urged me to commit 
crime, then used that as a means to betray 
me. Before I met you I was as pure and 
innocent as the young girl in this house, 



— 31- 

wh(>v«;e life you are plotting to ruin. You 
know I can love with my whole heart and 
soul ; and when I hate, I hate with a ven- 
geance. So, do not tempt me, for I care 
as little for my life as you cared for 
my honor. Throw me over and I'll kill 
you. When love for you faded from 
my heart, nearly all self-respect went 
with it, otherwise I would not be here to- 
night, playing the spy to aid you in your 
villainous scheming. But do not tempt me 
too far ; there is one little spark of woman- 
hood yet left in my soul. That little spark 
may kindle the fire of revenge. Though it 
cost me my life, yours, too, will pay the 
penalty. I must have the money tonight. 
When you put it in my hands, I will tell 
you all that I know concerning you. When 
I get the money, I intend to lead a decent 
life, and spend the remainder of my days 
in obscurity. 

Miguel VivANco— Enough, woman ! Meet me this evening 
at Tenth and Broadway at half past eight. 
I will be there with the money. 

Dona Martinez - I will. Play me false, and I will carry out 
my threats. (Exit Dona Martinez.) 

Martin Bryant— {Enter.) Well, old boy, how did you make 
out? 

Miguel Vivanco— Carraco ! I didn't make out at all, you 
know devilish well. I will have to try 
some other means of persuasion. She is de- 
termined to stick to that gringo in spite of 
the devil. Perhaps I could have made 
some impression upon her, had he not 
stuck in and come between us at the crit- 
ical moment. I thought he had left the 
house. Sir, you will have to use some 
form of inducement. 

Martin Bryant I can do nothing, but keep her from marry- 
ing the fellow, Ford — at least until she is 
of age. She will not marry without my 



- 32— 

consent before that time. What form of 
persuasion did you use? I dare say, you 
became irritated, and a^ain resorted to 
force. If you did and still persist in that, 
you will be a single man all your life, if 
your hopes are centered alone in my 
daughter, for she is her mother's daughter, 
and would rather die than submit to force. 

Curtain. 
ACT II— Scene 2. 

Street scene in New York after dark, enter Vivanco and 

Coles. 

Miguel Vivanco— This is the place I promised to meet her, it 
is near time she was showing up. (Looks 
at his watch.) 

Geo. Coles— But what about the abduction? 

Miguel Vivanco— Why, I mean to carry out your plans, of 
course. 1 consider the woman too danger- 
ous a character to be at large. Why, man, 
she could ruin me at the turn of her hand. 

Geo. Coles— {Laughs scornfully.) 'Tis a bad conscience 

that bothers you, Senor. But no matter, 
give me the two thousand and I will do the 
work. I guarantee to silence her tongue. 
Quick ! she is coming across the street now. 
Give me the money 

Miguel Vivanco— There it is ; take it, and may it do you good. 
Step back in the shadow before she discov- 
ers you, or she will not come over. {Coles 
steps hack into the shadow,) 

Dona Martinez— (Enter ) I see you are very prompt, Seuor. 
I hope you have the money ready. 

Miguel Vivanco— Ye-> ! {Begins to count a roll of hills. 
Coles springs from the shadow and drops 
shawl over Dona Martinez's head. Hurries 
her away in silence to a cah.) Ha ! ha ! ha ! 
Dona Martinez do not tempt you. ay ! 
Well, I do not think you will tempt 
me further with your bravado. Coles 
will tend to you with little risk to myself. 
Th;»t woman is the most dangeious enemy 



I have, excepting Ned Bryant. The woman 
is all right avS I0112: as the money comes her 
way. But her demands are outrageous Ha! 
Here comes proud lady Nell, I'll step aside 
and await her. (Steps aside. ?[ ell passes. 
Viva/wo uninviled slips up behind her and 
slips his arm in hers.) Out for a stroll, 
Miss Nell? 

Nell Bryant — Please release my arm, I have an errand to 
do. 

Miguel Vivanco — Well, I will accompany you. 

Nell Bryant — But first release my arm, it is not the cus- 
tom in our country to be seen on the street 
linked arms with a stranger. 

MiGL'EL Vivanco — But I am no stranger to you. 

Nell Bryant — No ! That is just the trouble. I know you 
too well. ( Vivanco still persists.) I ask 
you on your honor as a gentleman, to re- 
lease my arm. 

Miguel Vivanco — You are quite touchy of late, I have your 
father's permission to accompany you on 
this errand, as you call it. {Well Bryant 
tries to lorench herself free^ hut in vain.) 

Charles Ford — (^Appears imnoticed 07i the scene.) Perhaps 
it a gentleman were to ask you to release 
the lady you would be kind enough to do 
so. 

Miguel Vivanco — Scowls and quickly draws a knife from his 
bosom, darts at Charlie. {Carraco^ Amer- 
icano Gringo.) 

Charles Ford — ( Ready for imergency^ covers Vivanco 
with pistol.) Just sheath that bit of 
steel, or this little slug pumper mis;ht get 
unruly and cause me the inconvenience of 
puncturing your ugly carcass. See. Curtain. 

ACT III— Scene 1. 

In Mexico at the ranch of Vivanco, a library or garden 
scene, very richly furnished if pf)ssible. Occupants Vivanco. 
Carlos and Coles, the former clerk, of Bryant (k Delmour 
Time one year from Mexican's visit to New York. Decanter 



—34- 

and glasses on the table. The two brothers sit smoking cig- 
arets. Coles is apparently asleep. Curtain goes up with 
soft music of guitar, ''The Spanish Cavalier." 

Miguel Vivanco — Well, Carlos, what luck on the last expedi- 
tion ? 
Carlos Vivanco — Pretty fair, though it cost us three men. 
The men were about discouraged ; five days 
we scouted after having crossed the bound- 
ary into ISew Mexico with no success. On 
the evening of the fifth day Pedro, who was 
out looking around after we had gone into 
camp for the night, reported a thin column 
of smoke about half a mile to eastward of 
our camp. The men immediately mounted 
and rode hastily but quietly forward. To 
our surprise we found three lone prospect- 
ors preparing their evening meal. We 
swept down on them, and how they did fight. 
It almost looked like a pity to murder such 
courageous fellows ; but they had what we 
wanted, and in such cases one does not need 
a conscience. The result of the fight was 
we killed two of them, after they had emp- 
tied three saddles in our party and wound- 
ed four. The prospectors had struck luck 
for they had about ten thousand worth of 
dust ; we captured that, though we paid 
dearly for it. No sooner had we hove in 
sight, than the long tom Springfield rifles 
began to speak; and had 1 not urged the 
boys on, I believe they would have been 
tempted to fall back and beat a retreat. 
There was OQe young fellow who seemed t(» 
bear a charmed life, for he rode straight to- 
ward us though every carbine in our party 
was leveled on him. I rode close enough to 
drop my lariat over his shoulders, but in the 
twinkling of an eye, he whipped out a 
bowie knife and severed the twisted horse 
hair as though it were burnt flax. It was 
amazing so witness the rapidity with whicii 



—35- 

he loaded and fired the pair of Colt's six 
shooters, while at full speed, the reins in his 
teeth. 
Miguel Vivanco — But what became of this third fellow? 
Carlos Vivanco — Oh ! He escaped, rode right through our 
lines as though we were paper men. He 
scored two of the killed, and three (»f the 
wounded, but he escaped, riding like mad 
for the settlements. 
Miguel Vivanco — What kind of looking fellow was Carlos? 
Carlos Vivanco — A well builr, young fellow, whom I should 
judge to be about twenty-two or twenty- 
three years of age, sat on a horse with the 
ease of a knight of old. Dark brown hair 
and blue eyes, and had the bearing and 
features of the fighting Irish American. I 
believe the other two fellows called him 
Ned. But, hold, you have not as yet made 
me acquainted with your brandy-soaked 
gringo friend. 
Miguel Vivanco — Oh ! That's a fellow who was in my secret 
employ in the East. He was in a broker's 
office there as confidential clerk, could not 
keep his hands off the cash, and lost his job. 
Then he comes down here to live off of me, 
and knowing enough to be dangerous, I 
could not throw him over, so I must contend 
with his company. But we can use him, 
ay ! Carlos. 
Carlos Vivanco— That we can, and to a good purpose, too. 
Miguel Vivanco — The escape of that third prospector bothers 
me, Carlos. You say his partners called him 
Ned. 
Carlos Vivanco — I believe that was the name. 
Miguel Vivanco— ( Soliloquizing. ) Yes, that description suits 
Ned Bryant to the letter. (Ih Coles.) 
Wake up here. Coles. 
Geo. Coles— (Hie) Well, {hie) do you (hie) want? 

Miguel Vivanco— Where was Ned Bryant the last time they 

heard from him at home. 
Geo. Coles— In Arizona, (hie) but the letter said (hioj 



-36- 

lie was about to (hie) Jeave with a pros- 
pecting (hie) party for New Mexico. Don't 
bother (hie) rae any more (hie) ; I'm tired 
(hie), 

Miguel Vivanco — {Ttirning to Carlos.) I knew it was Nell's 
brother. 

Geo. Coles — (Sohering very quickly as ht caught last 

looixls.) Oh, Lord, is he here? Hide me, 
or he will murder me. 

Miguel Vivanco — Silence, you cowardly f ool ; he is not with- 
in miles of here. 

Geo. Coles — Where! Where is he? 

Miguel Vivanco— In Arizona by this time, you fool. 

Geo Cdles — Oh ! (hie) I thought (hie) you said (hie) he 

was (hie) here. 

Miguel Vivanco — Was that the only haul you made on a ten 
days' sojourn? 

Carlos Vivanco — No, we rounded up and jumped the bound- 
ary with five hundred American steers. 
The men are at this very moment changing 
tbe brand to that of yours. 

Miguel Vivanco — 1 liad rather you had bagged that third 
prospector than all the gold and cattle* 
Perhaps when I tell you that he is the only 
man that stands between yourself and Lasca 
you, too, will be of the same opinion. 
{Lasca Lopez who is ahout to enter room on 
hearinq her name^ steps behind curtain to 
listen.) 

Miguel Vivanco — If you could in some way induce her to 
marry you in his absence, we can secure her 
fortune. You know my guardianship will 
run out in another year, as she will be of 
age. 

Lasca Lopez — {Aside,) That is the first time I ever knew 
that I was an heiress. It is very plain now 
why he objected to me marrying Ned 
Bryant. 

Miguel Vivanco — Once of age, the devil himself can't keep 
her from finding out that she has a right to 
the estate, for the government will uphold 



—37— 

her in her claims according to the laws of 
the land. She is already growing too wise» 
for the other day she asked me how she 
ever came to fall into my hands and wanted 
to know who and where her parents were. 

Carlos Vivanco — And you told her? 

MiGiEL Vivanco — Do you see any green in my eye, or do you 
t£:ke me for a fool? Not I ! I told her I 
picked her up one stormy night on the 
prairie after the passing of an emigrant 
train, to all appearances having been de- 
serted by her parents and left on the plains 
as food for the coyotes. 

Carlos Vivanco — And she swallowed all as the truth. 

Miguel Vivanco — Yes, and cried as though her heart would 
break at the mere thought of not knowing 
who her parents were. Lord, perhaps there 
won't be a rumpus here when she finds out 
that her parents wpre of the Spanish no- 
bility, and that she is mistress of this estate, 
and I. only a guardian, a mere adventurer. 

Carlos Vivanco — Call her and I will see what I can do with 
her. 

Miguel Vivanco — (2 ouches hell^ and porter (Cortes) imme- 
diately responds.) Cortez send Lasca to me 
at once. 

Lasca Lopez — (Enters-^ Cortez tells me that you wish to 
si)eak with me. 
( Miguel Vivanco motions her toward Carlos.) 

Carlos Vivanco — Lasca, I have loved you all your life. I 
have urged my suit several times, but you 
do not give jne any satisfaction. If you 
have a spark of humanity or pity in your 
soul, try to look over the fast life I have 
been leading. Consent to be my wife, and 
I promise on my honor as a gentleman, to 
devote my whole life to the cause of making 
you happy. If you do not love me now, I 
will give you every cause to learn to love 
me, and with your big. good natured heart, 
lam certain you will appreciate my efforts 



- 38- 

and make my miserable life a happy one 
by giving me your hand in holy wedlock. 
Miguel speaks of sending you to the con- 
vent. Consent to be my wife and you may 
use your own pleasure. (Lasca stands si- 
lent.) 

Carlos Vivanco — Are you answered, girl? 

Lasca Lopez — Give me till tomorrow evening. 1 will 
think over the matter. 

Oarlos Vivanco — You speak very lightly of the affair. But 
I suppose it is no more than just. I will 
give you till tomorrow evening; but, re- 
member, no longer. Your hand or the 
walls of a Mexican convent. {Exit Vivanco, 
Coles, and Cai^los.) 

Lasca Lopez — It will be neither. I know now where Ned 
is; and before the rising of another sun, I 
will be well on my way to the States. If it 
is possible, that Carlos is a worse scoundrel 
than his brother, Miguel. He can tell the 
straightest lie in the most eloquent style of 
anyone I ever knew. Had I not happened 
to hear their conversation a moment ago, I 
would have been half inclined to believe 
that he really meant what he said. But, 
now that I know myself to be an heiress, it 
is easy to undei stand the object of his love- 
making. The lying scoundrels tried to 
make me believe they knew- nothing of my 
family. But, now, that I have a clue to my 
parentage, thank God ! I can, in time, offer 
Ned Bryant an ancestoral name as spotless 
as his own. (Footsteps ) What is that! 
I had better hold my tongue, or they will 
yet stop me and spoil my plans. (Enter 
Miguel and Carlos Vivanco. Lasca picks 
up guitar and exit.) 
Miguel Vivanco — By the way, Carlos; war has been declared 
in the States, between the North and the 
South. This fellow, Coles, tells me that 
my friend, Bryant, is all but bankrupt. All 



- 39— 
he has to depend on is the money he has 
invested in cattle. That is in my hande? 
and you know it i- in good hands. All that 
will save the proud gentleman now is his 
daughter's hand. If she can be induced to 
marry me, all will be well. If not, Senor 
Bryant goes to the wall, and New York's 
bulls and bears will gloat over his carcass 
as does the prairie wolf and the buzzard 
gloat over that of the wounded antelope. 
I'll bring his daughter's haughty head to 
bow down to me and beg for mercy at my 
feet. 
Oaklos Vivanco — Do you really love the girl, or have you 

some other object in view? 
Miguel Vivanco — I do ! She has a pretty face, and is as 
stately as a queen. She would make a 
fitting mistress of this estate. Then, again, 
you see ; I am sowing seed in both direc- 
tions. I want to be safe on both sides. 
Suppose Lasca were to refuse to marry you, 
and marry Ned Bryant instead? 
€arlos Vivanco — Why, I suppose, both of us would be left in 

the shade, without a dollar to our names. 
Miguel Vivanco — Oh, no, we wouldn't; if I manage to cap- 
ture Ned's sister. Ned loves his sister, and 
is just big enough fool to hand over half 
the estate to her, rather than see her in 
want ; for she has always been used to the 
best that money could buy. Then, you see, 
if I should happen to tire of her, I could 
put the wad in my pocket and skip for a 
cooler clime. 
Carlos V^ivanco — Ah ! I see you are milking two cows into 

one pail. 
Miguel Vivanco — That expresses the idea exactly. 
■Carlos Vivanco — Well, you certainly have the lariat around 
her neck. All it needs is the pulling, the 
noose tightens, and she is your prize. I 
wish it were as clear in my case. 
JViiGUEL Vivanco — (Pours oui wine.) Well, old boy; here's 
success to both of us. ( Touch glasses.) 

Curtain. 



—40— 

ACT III— ScEi;rE 2. 

A government post in Arizona, Union recruiting office. 
Within are officers seated at tables ; a platform on which is 
seated the officer in charge ; on one side of him Jis the oper- 
ator clicking away at his machifie, on the other, recording 
secretary. 

Colonel Bluff — (To operator.) Any news from headquar- 
ters. 

Operator — Yes, Colonel ; there is a message clicking 

over the wires at present. 

Colonel Bluff — Read it as soon as you get it. 

Operator — {Beads message.) — Fort Phoenix, Arizona, 

May 20th, 1861. Colonel C. H. Bluff, com- 
manding, Tombstone, Arizona: Enlist 
men as fast as possible. As soon as a com- 
pany is formed, put them on the road to 
Phoenix. (Signed) 

Col. G. E. Blunt, U. S. A. 

Ned Bryant — {Horse' s hoofs outside at a gallop.^ Whoa \. 

Colonel Bluff — What, in the name of goodness, has got into 
those green troopers, anyway? From the 
way they have been galloping around this 
office, you would think they were about to 
take it by storm. There is no more respect 
; in these parts for an officer than for a com- 
mon soldier. They rush in and out of the 
office when they see fit; and half the time 
fchey have not the good manners to salute. 
I'll bet, if I am out here in command much 
longer, there will be a change in discipline. 

Orderly — (Salutes.) Sir, a gentleman sends his 

compliments, and asks to see you. 

Colonel Bluff — What does he want? Tell him I am busy ; 
I haven't time to stop and talk to every 
drunken cowboy that takes it into his head 
to pay me a visit. Why ! some of these 
fool cow punchers have gall enough to 
come in here and demand time for a friend- 
ly interview; during my busiest hours of 
the day. 



— 41— 

Orderly — Well, sir; I don't know what the gentle- 

man wants, but I do know he is not drunk, 
aiid has the carriage of an officer of cavalry, 
rather than a cowboy, and looks as though 
he had had a long ride — for he is covered 
with dust from head to foot — and insists 
upon seeing you. 

Colonel Bluff — Well, admit him; he may bear dispatches. 
(^Orderly salutes, exit. Ned enters, salutes. 
Aside.) A noble-looking fellow. {To 
Ned.) Do you bring dispatches, my friend? 

Ned Bryant — No, sir; but am ready to carry them. I 
came to enlist. I have been prospecting in 
New Mexico ; struck luck, and was return- 
ing with my booty, only to be robbed by 
Mexican brigands. They murdered my 
companions in cold blood ; I, myself, escap- 
ing only by a hairsbreadth. And, now, that 
my country calls for volunteers, I consider it 
my duty to offer my humble services to the 
cause of retaining its freedom. 

Colonel Bluff — Secretary ; prepare the papers. 

Secretary — I am ready, sir. 

Colonel Bluff — Your name, sir; in full? 

Ned Bryant — Edward Glendale Bryant. 

Colonel Bluff — (Secretary writes) Your age and parents. 

Ned Bryant — Twenty-one, sir, the 7th day of last March. 
My father's name is Martin J. Bryant; my 
mother's maiden name was Glendale. 

Colonel Bluff — Where born, and where your present home? 

Ned Bryant — Born in Glendale, New Hampshire, March 
7th. 1840. My present home — (Aside.) 
Alas I 1 have none. {Hesitates.) 

Colonel Bluff — Well, sir ! where is your present home? 

Ned Bryant — Wherever my hat's off, Colonel. 

Colonel Bluff — But, your people ; you certainly have some 
near relative alive. 

Ned Bryant — {Sighs.) My family home is Fifth avenue, 
New York City. 

Colonel Bluff — 1 beg your pardon, sir I But, are you in any 
way related to Martin Bryant, the Wall 
street broker? 



—42- 

Ned Bryant— Yes, Colonel; he is my father. Why? 
Have you any news from him ! 

Colonel Bluff — No I have not heard from him for several 
years. Why, boy ! I know your whole 
family, on both sides. What, in the name 
of God, ever induced you to come out here 
and enlist as a common trooper. Why, 
man ! your paients on both sides are of the 
oldest and best standing in the country. 
The last time I saw you, you were in 
knickerbockers, and. I dare say, the most 
mischievious lad in all New Hampshire. I 
don't suppose you remember me. 

Ned Bryant — No, sir ; I can't say that 1 do. 

Colonel Bluff — You are your mother's son, every inch of 
you. She came trom the fighting stock of 
a royal Irish family. I do not know of any 
fighting stock on your father's side of the 
house. Your mother's ancestors distin- 
guished themselves in both the Revolution- 
ary and Mexican wars. Your mother is 
dead these many years. She died before 
you left the old homestead. How is the old 
gentleman's health now? 

Ned Bryant — The labt time I saw him — about a year 
ago — h« was in the best of health. 

Colonel Bluff — {/Shakes Ned^s hand warmly.) Well, my 
boy, i wish you good luck and a speedy ad- 
vancement to a commission. I must get 
back to my work. Sign these papers, and 
1 assure you, you will find plenty of fight- 
ing before many weeks. 

Ned Bryant — (Signs papers. Salutes.) At your ser- 
vice, sir. 

Colonel Bluff — Be ready to march north in two hours, a 
detachment of recruits march at sundown, 
(Lasca enters i7i courier'' s attire. Falls 
fainting to floor from wound in temple.) 

Ned Bryant — ( Springs to assistance; holds bleeding head 
in his hands; looks into face.) M> God! 
it is a woman ; and Lasca, my little sweet- 
heart. 



-43- 

Lasca I.opez — Ned ! Thank God ! 

Nep Bryant — Bring some water. (Orderly hrings loater. 
Lasra drinks.) 

Ned Bryant — The wound is but slight; she is faint from 
loss of blood. Quick, little one, what has 
befallen you? 

Lasca I opfz — Quick Ned ! The Apaches have jumped 
the reservation, and are burning every 
ranch house this side of the boundary, and 
murdering the occupants. (Enter crowd of 
recruits and frontiersmen-) They are 
about to attack a railroad cam^, about 
thirty miles to the south in which are many 
women and children. Oh ! Ned save 
thera, there seems to be hundreds of the 
red fiends, the prairie seems tc swarm 
with them. I staid at the camp last night 
di-guised as a man. When I heard the 
news, I rode as fast as my tired pony could 
take me. Send help quick; they cannot 
hold out long, for they are but poorly armed. 
( Faints.) 

Col Bluff — I have no men to send. The nearest post of 

regulars is twenty miles to the west. Oper- 
ator wire Colonel Blunt at once to send 
two or three companies of cavalry to their 
rescue. 

Operator — (Clicks machine ., ct moment of suspense.) I 

receive no response. My God, the wires 
are cut. 

CoL. Bluff — And he who carries the message will have 

to run the gauntlet with little hopes of 
success. Will any one volunteer? 
(Men gritmble discontentedly one to the 
other., hut no one answers.) 

Nei» Bryant — (Springs to his feet, salutes.) I'll go, sir, 
if you do but give me a fresh horse. If I 
do not stop short of the happy hunting 
ground take good care of the little Senor- 
ita, and when she has recovered sufiiciently 
to travel, send her to my family, with the 
news that I died while doing my duty. 



44- 



CoL. Bluff- 



Ned Bryamt- 



OoL. Bluff- 
First Man- 
Col. Bluff- 
First Man — 
Second Man- 
Third Man- 
Fourth Man- 
Ned Bryant- 



Lasca Lopez- 



Col. Bluff- 



Lasca Lopez -- 



But, Ned, it isalmost certain death. Your 
people would never consent to such a rash 
act. 

Why, Colonel, a few minutes ag;o you called 
for a volunteer to carry the message. I am 
no better than the other men. Perhaps, 
they too, would leave those that are near 
and dear to them to mourn their loss if they 
were to carry the message. Perhaps, little 
children or wives of whom they are the 
only support. I have no one to depend on 
me for a living. So, with your permission, 
for 1 am now under your command, I will 
undertake the ride. 

Well said, my lad ! Succeed, and you are 
the White Eagle of the Union Army. 
Three cheers for the young cub ! 
Silence, [men ! (Men step forward and 
shake Ned^s hand.) 
Good-bye, young fellow. 
There's the right sort of stuff in yon. 
It's a cinch that you are going to your own 
funeral. 

Three cheers for the nerviest man in camp* 
{Men give three cheers.) 
{Salutes Colonel. Bends over Lasca and 
kisses her.) Good-bye, boys. (Dodges 
through the doorvmy^ and is gone. Horses^ 
hoofs are heard as he rides off.) 
(Comes to her senses.) Have I been dream- 
ing, or is it really true that I have been 
speaking to Ned Bryant and felt his lips 
on my cheek. 

It's no dream. It is the truth. The brave 
fellow has ^one for help to rescue the in- 
mates of the besieged railroad camp. 
(Kniiels and makes sign or the cross ) Oh, 
God, the common Father of us all, protect 
him and send him back safe to me. {Men 
dofi their hats and how their heads.) Help 
him in the good work he has risked his life 



—45— 

to perform and give him strength to bear it 
out. {Curtain.) 

ACT III— Scene 3. 

A stockade at Railroad Camp. Within are several men 
defending the cabin, also women and children. Among 
the defenders are Charlie Ford, Mr. Delmour and Barney 
O'Neil, the Bryant & Delmour Construction Company. With- 
out yellinir of Indians and the cavalry io the rescue. 

Charles Ford — Stand to the loop holes, men. Take good 
aim and let every shot count. We'll empty 
a fe\^ saddles before we go under. See! 

Barney O'Neil — ( Who has been standing at a loop hole^ fires 
and lets a 'triumphant yell out of him. 
Whoop ! Lord, Mr. Charlie, did you see me 
topple that rea divil out of the saddle? 
The spalpeen was about to cast a rid hot 
dart on the roof of the shanty. Begorrah, 
I believe I killed the chief. The spalpeens 
are houlding a pow wow. Well, me beau- 
tiful creatures, you had better move out a 
little further th^n that, for it is amazing 
to know how far these long toms will kill. 
{Barney shoots again.) Whoop, faith, 
that mud colored gintieman let a yell out 
of him loike a stuck bull. 

Charles Ford — Be ready, boys I They are preparing for 
some new movement. I fear they are 
going to try firing the shanty. Let no 
man surrender if the shack is fired. Stand 
close to the women and load and fire as 
fast as possible. It will do no good to 
surrender, for they would murder us in cold 
blood. Steady now, boys, they are advanc- 
ing. 

(Indians on outside^ loud lohoops^ and 
galloping of' ponies and shooting.) 

Charles Ford — Now! (Defenders all h're at once.) 

Jose Delmour — ( Throios up both hands and falls to the 
Hoor.) My God, I am shot I (Charlie to 
his assistance.) 



Charles Ford — 
Jose Delmour — 



Charles Ford — 



Ned Bryant — 

Charles Ford — 
Barney O'Neil- 



Ned Bryant — 
Barney O 'Neil- 
Ned Bryant — 



Charles Ford 



-46— 

Delmour, old boy, speak to me. Are you 
mustered out? 

Yes, Charlie. Never mind me. I am done 
for. You can do nothing for me. Protect 
yourself and the women. Good-bye, Char- 
lie! {Falls hack and hreatJies his last.) 
{Shoaling on outside, and wliooping grows 
fainter,) 

Good-bye, Delmour, and may your soul rest 
in peace. {Springs to a loop hole.) What 
is that? The Indians are retreating ! {Iron 
shod hoofs, cavalry cheers.) Thank God^ 
we are saved ! 

{Dashes into room with his arm in a sling 
and Mood on his face.) I hope we are not 
too late. What, Charlie, you here ! {Men 
rush out of cahin with shouts of joy.) 
As I am alive, it is Ned Bryant! {Clasp 
hands.) 

Hould on there, Masther Ford. Give me a 
chance at the young masther. Faith, Ned, 
it does one's eyes good to look on your face 
afther bein' away so long. It's powerful 
glad I am to see you, but is your arm and 
head hurted much? 
No, Barney, only flesh wounds. 
• Begorrah, Ned, another hour and the spal- 
peens would be afther scalping the whole 
of us. The ugly divils ! 
You certainly are in great luck, Barney, for 
had help not come it would have been only 
a matter of a few hours till the Indians 
would have discovered some means of firing 
the shacks. Tell me, Charlie, is father 
here ! 

No, Ned ; perhaps it is well for him that 
isn't. There is what is left of his partner, 
Jose Delmour. Your father scarcely ever 
leaves New York any more. The old gen- 
tleman has changed considerably since you 
left, Ned. His hair is considerably more 



47— 



Ned Bryant- 



Oharles Ford- 



Ned Bryant— 



Charles Ford- 



Ned Bryant- 



Charles Ford 



white than it was a year ago. and the lines 
and wrinkles of age are beginning to show 
in his face. 

(As hehends over lifeless body of Delmour.) 
Poor fellow ; his soul has winged its way to 
a land that knows not crime or trouble. A 
better natured. or more harmless fellow 
than Jose Delmour, never lived. 
Yes ! and he died like a man ; his good na- 
ture and humanity showing itself in his 
last words. 

We must give him decent burial, Charlie. 
We have an ambulance with us; we will 
take his remains back to the post and bury 
him in the government cemetery. I will 
send a couple of men in for them before we 
march. But, old boy, you have not yet 
told me anything regarding father's health. 
And how is Nell? 

Oh, they're all right, Ned; but the poor 
little girl mourns you as no longer among 
the living. And, by the way, Ned ; your 
tather found that fellow, Coles, out to be a 
rascal and discharged him. Vivanco, too, 
is about to lose his grip ; that is, as regards 
your father's idea of giving him Nell's 
hand in marriage. But he dare not throw 
him over openly, for he has the old gentle- 
man in his power financially. 
I am sorry for poor father ; but he can only 
blame himself. 1 gave him due warning, 
but he could not see things in the same 
light as myself. What hurts me most, is 
his having taken the word of Coles and 
Vivanco in preference to yours, poor Del- 
mour's, and my own. He even called me 
a liar in the presence of that thieving 
scoundrel. Yet, I forgive him with all my 
heart. He was deceived. 
You must go home, now, Ned ; your father 
will be ready to receive you with open arms 



-48— 



Ned Bryant - 



and you can comfort him in his afflictions. 
And, Nell! why, she will be so overjoyed 
at seeing you that she won't know what to 
do with herself. 

I would like to, Charlie ; I bear no ill-will 
whatever toward him. But I have enlisted 
in the Union army, and march to the front 
as soon as I get back to the post. If I live 
through the wtar, I hope to bring home to 
my people a name as spotless as the one 
to which father imagined me to be a dis- 
grace. I intend to fight my way to a com- 
mission or die in the attempt. 
Then, I, too, will enlist, and go with you. 
By the way, Ned ; when did you hear from 
the little Senorita last? 
I saw her about twenty-four hours since 
you did, Charlie. 

Why, Ned ! what do you mean? I never 
laid eyes on the girl in my life. 
Oh, yes you did ! 
But, Ned ; I beg to differ. 
Come off, now, Charlie ! She staid at this 
very camp night before last. 
You must be mistaken, Ned; there hasn't 
been a strange woman in camp for over 
three weeks. 

She staid at this camp night before last, 
disguised as a man ; and had it not been for 
her, ever mother's son and daughter of you 
would now be smouldering beneath the 
ruins of these shacks. She ran the gaunt- 
let to save your lives, and now lies wound- 
ed at the recruiting office in Tombstone. 
I thought that little chap with the nice 
manners and artificial whiskers was too 
much of a beauty to belong to the male 
sex. Why, I tried to urge the would-be 
lad to stay with us, 
Ned Bryant— (Laughs.) 'Tis well for you, she didn't. 
{Bugle call outside.) Come, Charlie ! there 



Charles Ford- 
Ned Bryant — 
Charles Ford- 
Ned Bryant- 
Charles Ford- 
Ned Bryant- 
Charles Ford- 
Ned Bryant- 



Charles Ford— 



-49 

is the call to boots and saddles. We have 
orders to leave a company of cavalry to 
guard the workmen. So, if you are going 
with me, come, and let's be off to the post, 
and you'll soon have the pleasure of her 
acquaintance. 

Barney O'Niei^— ( Who has been diligently\em2)loyed cleaning 
the guns.) But, phat of Mr. Delmour's re- 
mains. 

Ned Bryant— Never fear, Barney ; I will see that they 

are taken proper care of. Come with me, 
Barney. 

Barney O'Niel- (Shoulders his gim.) Faith, and thin I 
will, and take this with me, too. {All move 
toward the door.) Curtain. 

ACT IV— Scene 1. 

Two years of the war are over. Scene in Bryant man- 
sion. Nell holds daily paper in her hands, closely scrutiniz- 
ing the picture of a young bearded face on the first page. 
Her father sits in the far corner of the room opening the 
morning mail. 

Nell Bryant— Father, have you any idea what ever be- 
came of Dona Martinez. She disappeared 
so suddenly; never saying a word to any 
one. And, if you remember, it was on the 
very evening of Vivanco's arrival in New 
York. Do you know, I believe he sent her 
off? Furthermore, I believe him to be the 
one that sent her here in the first place. 
Where did you get her, anyway? 

Martin Bryant — Ah ! I am beginning to see things in the true 
light, though I admit, I have long been 
blind. You ask me where I got her, I will 
tell you. I never saw the woman in my 
life before the morning she went to work 
here. That very morning she came to my 
office, saying that she had heard I needed 
housekeeper. She said she had seen my 
advertisement in the daily paper. She pre 
sented letters -of introduction and recom- 



- 50- 

mendation from several Spanish families. 
1 lead them, and was soft enough to ac- 
cept her services without further investi- 
i^ation as to who or w^hat she was But I 
assure you lam now a much wiser man. I 
myself, now believe her to have been in the 
employ of Vivanco. Your words now call 
to my memory, I am almost, certain I saw 
her enter the room where he was and re- 
main some time on the afternoon of his ar- 
rival. I thought nothing of it at the time, 
I was so blinded by deceit. 

Nell Bryant — At last, father, you admit that you believe 
Ned innocent. 

Martin Bryant — Yes Nell, I do believe him innocent. I have 
got to the bottom of all the charges against 
iiim, excepting the forgery, which has not 
been cleared up satisfactorially ; but 1 
think the truth will out in time. When 
that is cleared up I intend to expose Vi- 
vanco as a criminal. I think it will give 
me sufficent cause, for I believe him to be 
the forger. As things now stand, I dare 
not throw him over, for he has me finan- 
cially in his power. 

Nell Brya.^t — (Rashes over lo her father, throws her arms 
round his neck.) Father! Thank God! 
The fog is beginning to rise, and the black 
fleet is gradually beginning to fail into the 
lear. Yes, as Charlie said, one by one. 
''Hold the wheel steady, Ned, my boy, and 
victory is ours." 

Mahtin Bryant — Why, Nell ; what in the name of goodness, 
are you talking about, anyway? 

Nell Bryant — Oh, nothing. My mind is wondering some- 
what. Any news this morning, father? 

Martin Bryant — No, Nell. I fear the news we look for will 
never come. It almost drives me mad to 
think of it. I have almost given up hope 
of ever hearing anything from either Ned 
or Charlie. When even Barney never 



- 51 - 

turned up after that railroad extension 
shut down, on account of this civil war 
trouble, my last hope fled. Ever since the 
fatal day that the di-patrh came informing 
me of poor Delmour's death, lam inclined 
to think that Barney and Charlie met a 
similar fate. Though, perhaps not ; for you 
know, since then, all communication has 
been shut off from the South and South- 
west. God only knows what became of 
poor Ned ; I have not the least idea. 

Sam — ( Enter.) Miss Nell, did you say Sam could 

go to de depo' to see de sojers goin' away ! 

Nell Bryant — Yes, Sam, you may go. Here is some 
change for you. ( Hands him coin. ) 

Sam — T'ank you, Miss. {Stands, looks wistfully 

at Nell ) 

NiLL Bryant — Well, Sam, have you anything more to ask? 

Sam — ( Tioisting his cap in his hands.) Yes, Miss ; 

de odder servants has been doue tellin' 
Sam dat when dp wah is ober, Sam can't 
stay hyer any longer; dat dis niggah will 
hab to get out in dis big v/orld, and be wat 
dey call a free niggah. (Begins to snuMe.) 
Dey say de goberment is gwine to issue wot 
dey calls a proclamation. Now, dis hyar 
coon am free enough where he's at. Say, 
Miss; Sam don't hab to leib and done go 
out into dis hyar big world all by himself, 
does he. Miss? 

Nell Bryant — No, Sam ; the servants do not understand 
the proclamation. You are no slave, and 
may go, or stay as you choose. If you wish 
to remain after the war is over, you are at 
liberty to do so ; if you do not so choose, 
you may go even before the war is over. 
New York is far from being a slave state. 

Sam — T'ank you, Miss. Sam is satisfied an' will 

done stay where he is treated kindly. 
( lurns, exit.) 

Martin Bryant — Nell, yourself and Ned both take after your 



—52 - 

mother. When treated kindly she was as 
gentle as a lamb. But she came from a 
fighting race, and. when imposed upon, was 
as fiery in action as she was gentle in 
peace. She would not hurt one's feelings 
for anything on earth. She could win a 
heart of stone through kindness. You are 
her exact counterpart I really believe the 
servants of this house would risk their 
lives for you, if they thought it would in 
any way please you. Ned has the qualities 
of the fighting race of her ancestors, and I 
fear me he enlisted when the war broke 
out, and met his death, through some rash 
act of courage, trying to win a commission. 

Nell Bryant — Cheer up, father. I will have hope of see- 
ing both Ned and Charlie until I hear of 
their death ; though it has been nearly 
four years since I h^ard from Ned, and 
nearly three since I received that last gay 
letter from Charlie ; still, I do not give up. 

Martin Bryant — None the better for you, Nell. You should 
not dote on those sweet hopes. The blow 
will be all the harder when it comes. 

Nell Bryant — Let us drop the subject, it only makes us 
sad to talk of them ; but I firmly believe I 
will see them both alive and happy. Charlie 
said the voyage would be a long and tedious 
one. 

Martin Bryant — What do you mean by always alluding to 
ships, and fog, and voyages ; one would 
think you were atn old sea captain. 

Nell Bryant — (Laughs.) Oh! I am just using some of 
Charlie's phrases, you know he was once a 
sailor. {As she walks hack to her chair). If 
I were to tell him of my vision he would 
only laugh at me, though it is every word 
coming true. (As she sits down agairi and 
picks up paper.) By the way, father, the 
morning's paper is again full of the accounts 

*'■- '^^^ '"'* of nev^d6eds'X)f valor of that yo^ngckialry- 



-53- 

man called the White Eagle. He is a mys-. 
terious personajije, whom no one seems to 
know by any other name than the White 
Eagle. It. seems he does not wish to dis- 
close his name to the public. His picture 
is in the paper today. His bearded face 
seems familiar to me, though 1 suppose it is 
just a fancy. 

Martin Bkyant — What new feathc r in his cap now, Nell? 

Nell Bryant — It seems that at the battle of Ohicamauga 
his regimental colors were captured by the 
enemy. The olficer in command fell, pierced 
through the heart by a Confederate bullet. 
The troopers were preparing to retreat, when 
a young captain of cavalry, bearing a white 
eagle on his shirt bosom, dashed to the 
front, with his sv^ord flourished above his 
head. He turned in his saddle and shouted 
words of encouragement to the terror- 
stricken soldiers, who, with three mighty 
cheers, again dashed up the hillside before 
the withering fire of the Confederate guns. 
He then rode even into the cannon's mouth, 
snatching up the lately captured colors, 
and bore them back to the regiment amid 
the cheers of nearly half the Union army. 
He has risf n from the ranks to a colonel's 
commission, and now commands the regi- 
ment in whose ranks he before fought. The 
soldiers have a superstitious belief that he 
bears a charmed life, for though the bullets 
whistled thick about him and tore great 
gaps in his campaign hat and shirr, none 
struck him, and save a few insignificant 
scratches he was in no way seriously 
wounded. 
Martin Bryant — Such a story is possible, Nell, but not prob- 
able. My belief is that it is only a news- 
paper sensation contrived to sell the papers. 
You should not believe all of these sensa- 
tional stories. 



- 54 



^ELL Bryant- 



Nelson Griggs- 
Nell Bryant— 



Lasca Lopez- 



Nell Bryant — 
Martin Bryant- 



Nell Bryant- 



Martin Bryant — 



Nell Bryant — 
Lasca Lopez — 



But, father, every paper one has picked up 
for the past six months has accounts of 
some new act of valor accorded to the White 
Ea^le, and the storv is always so straight 
that one cannot help but believe there is 
some truth in them. 

(Enter.) .Miss Nell, a young lady. (Hands 
Nell a card.) 

{Nell reads aloud.^ Senorita Lasca Lopez. 
Father, Ned's angel comes to us; perhaps 
she knows something of his whereabouts. 
Nelson, show her in at once. (Nelson hows 
exit.) 

(Enter.) Oh, Senorita ! I knew you were 
the sweet girl I pictured you to be t 
( Embrace. ) 

Father, isn't she a little darling. 
Glad to make your acquaintance, Senorita ! 
So this is the girl that Vivanco spoke of as 
of low birth and low habits. The lying 
scoundrel, the noose is gradually tightening, 
around his neck. 

I told you the fog was rising. I can already 
see the sun breaking through the clouds in 
all its splendor. Father, how could you 
blame Ned for falling in love with such a 
sweet little girl? 

I do not blame him, Nell. Oh, that he were 
here that I could take back those cruel 
words. Vivanco deceived me. He described 
her as nothing more than a social flirt, in- 
stead of the noble lady that she is. I be- 
lieved him and acted accordingly. 
Tell me, Lascd, where is Ned? When did 
you last hear from him? 
It is two long years since I last heard from 
or saw him — that was in a recruiting ofiice 
in Ar zona. There He enlisted in the Union 
army, as also did your friend Charles Ford,, 
and an Irishman called Barney O'Neil, both 
of whom Ned rescued from the Indians after 



-65— 

a thirty mile ri'le through tlie Apache 
country. 
Nell Bryant — See, did I not tell you, father? Ned and 
Charlie both will drop in on us some of 
these fine dayp. 

Lasca Lopez — On leaving me, Ned made me promise to 
come to you, but I was seized with a violent 
fever after his departure, caused from a 
wound received during a ride across country 
to Tombstone, but I pulled through all right 
for Ned's sake. When I had recovered suf- 
ficiently to travel I immediately started 
East, only to be arrested as a Union spy? 
and spent sixteen months in a Confederate 
prisoD at Mobile, Alabama. However, I 
must say I was treated very kindly, and on 
proving to them that I was a citizen of 
Mexico they released me. The greater part 
of the other two months have been spent in 
obtaining passes to cross both Union and 
Confederate lines. Till now, thank God, I 
am with sompone who knows and loves Ned- 

Martin Bryant — But how did you escape from Vivanco? 

Lasca Lopez — He tried to force me to marry his brother 
Carlos. So one fine night I made my way 
across the border into the United States 
disguised as a man, and Providence had so 
destined that I should fall in with Ned 
at a recruiting ofiice in Tombstone, Ari- 
zona. 

NjSll Bryant — have you heard nothing of either Ned or 
Charlie since? 

Lasca Lopez — No, Senorita, how could I unless by chance? 

Nell Bryant — Call me Nell. There is no need of your 
estrangingyourself from me by using a han- 
dle to my name. 

Lasca Lopez — Thank you, Nell ! Say do you know 1 love 
you, Nell? I loved you before I ever saw 
you. Ned pictured you in such glowing 
terms that I could not do otherwise. Then 
I ri=5ad your character in your letter. Oh, 



-56- 

Nel], it is such a comfort to kno\v that one 
is among friends. I hardly knew the mean- 
ing of that word V)efore your brother came 
into my Jife. If 1 onJy knew he was alive 
and happy. Howl watched every soldier's 
face that wore the Union blue, as I crossed 
their lines, with the faint hope of seeing 
his face among the thousands of brave fel- 
lows who are shedding their blood for the 
sake of humanity. Bu*", no, it was not to 
be. My watching was in vain. You w^ould 
hardly have known Ned the last time I saw 
him. His face was covered with a thicR, 
though well kept beard. (Her eyes fall 
on picture in newspaper. She starts-) Can 
it be that I am dreaming? Tell me, Nell 
whose picture is that in the newspaper? 

Nell Bryant — VVhy, Lasca, dear! What troubles you? 
That is a mysterious young cavalryman 
whom no one seems to know by any other 
name than the White Eagle. 

Lasca Lopfz — Do I hear aright ! The White Eagle ! Nell, 
that White Eagle is my sweetheart, {Nell 
starts) and your brother Ned. {Curtain.) 

ACT lY— Scene 2. 

A cafe in Chattanooga after the Battle of Chicamauga. 
Officers and citizens sit at table, chatting and smoking and 
drinking. Yivanco and Carlos sit at table, similarly occu- 
pied. 

Miguel Vivanco — What do you suppose ever became of Lasca? 
Her disappearance was so sudden and com- 
plete that she did not leave even the slight- 
est clue behind her. Do you suppose she 
would commit suicide? 

Carlos Vivanco — No, indeed, she was too sensible a girl, and 
her faith was too btrong ! Well, in fact, 
she was too much of a Christian to resort to 
such a rash act. We let her slip away from 
us like two big chumps. If she is alive she 
will be turning up before long to claim her 



-57 - 

fortut e, for I think she knew more about 
herself than we ever had sense enough to 
suspect. She was by no means as green a' d 
innocent as she let on to be. My opinion is; 
that she got wii.d of the real state of affairs, 
tried to make her way to the States, and wus 
murdered by the Indians, for you know the 
Apaches were on the war-path about that 
time, and many men. women and children 
met death at their hands. If she is dead, 
so much the better for us. She has no rela- 
tives and the fortune falls into our hands. 
Had the fellow Bryant carried her off, we 
would have perhaps heard something of it 
before this. 

News Px.y — (Enter.) New York Herald, Post, Times- 

Star and all Chattanooga daily papers. All 
about the daring charge of the White Eagle 
at Chickamauga. (To Vivanco.) Paper, 
Mister ! Full account of the battle. 

MiGiEL ViVAXco — Yes, give me a New York Herald. Then 
clear out of here as fast as you can. 
(^News Boy gives Vivanco a paper, T/ien 
sta7ids watching him with discontent in his 
expression. ) 

]MiGrEL Vivanco — Well, what do you want, you young rag-a- 
muflSn? 

News Boy — What's it to you? You're one of dese smart 

guys, ain't you? If I fought yer were me 
equal I'd take a poke at yer. See! {Moves 
on.) New York Herald, Post, Times-Star 
and all Chattanooga daily papers ! Full 
account of tlie daring charge of ihe White 
Eagle and history of the regiment he has 
made famous. 

Citizen— {At a table.) Here, boy, ^ive me a Post? 

What regiment does the White Eagle be- 
long to? 

News Boy— To the Tenth United States, sir; better 

known as the Arizona Rangers. {Citizen 
ghyes hoy money.) Thank you, sir! {Sev- 



—58— 

e red others call for papers.) 
News Boy— {As he leaves.) Herald, Post, Times-Star 

and all Chattanooga daily papers. (To 
Vivanco.) Hey, you Mister Smart Alick 
over there ! ( Vivanco turns. ) You fellow 
with the big hat ! ( Vivanco looks.) {Boy 
puts Unger to his nose and slams door.) 

Miguel Vivanco — I'll be damned if I ever saw such insolence 
in all my life. 

Carlos Vivanco — Oh, you shouldn't pay any attention to a 
little thing like that You are not in Mex- 
ico now. You are in the United States. 

Miguel Vivanco — It strikes me that there is a devilish poor 
union at present. Here, waiter, brine: us 
some more brandy and soda. 
( Wailer immediately responds.) 

Miguel Vivanco — Senor Bryant's money has tripled itself 
since the war began. But if his daughter 
still ignores me. he will receive a telegram 
some of these days, informing him that he 
is a bankrupt. (Picks up paper.) Here 
is more ado over the deeds of that young 
cavelero called the White Eagle. (Ned 
and Charlie enter in military cloaks hut- 
toned close to the chin., take seats at table 
across from Miguel and Carlos Vivanco un- 
noticed by them. ) 

Miguel Vivanco — Why, he has wnded through cannon balls 
now and saved the le^imental colors from 
disgrace. M^hat a fool a man is to risk his 
life for a few paltry dollars a month. By 
the way, Carlos ! I wonder if young Bryant 
didn't enlist when the war broke out? 

Carlos Vivanco — If he did, I hope he never gets out of it 
alive. 

Ned Bryant — Waiter bring us some wine. Some good 
clriret. 

Charles Ford — Ned, my heart v^as in my mouth as I saw 
you charge up that hill. I, myself, would 
never have thought of such a thing. As it 
WMS, I hardly knew what [ was doing. I 



Charles Ford — 
Ned Bryant — 



—59— 

saw yr»u flourish your sword above your 
head and dash to the front. Then the 
mighty cheers of that vast column of 
soldiers ; after that I neither saw nor heard 
anything but the deafening roar of artil- 
lery. All my work was done mechanically, 
I pressed the spurs to my horse's flanks 
and dashed to your side. How either of 
us ever escaped being riddled is a miracle to 
me. 

Ned Bryant — I know it was a reckless venture, but still 
I could not stand by and see the colors of 
the gallant Tenth disgraced, so up the hill I 
went, and thank God for my success. But^ 
tell me, Charlie, do I look like my old self 
since I shaved oif my beard? 
That you do, Ned ! You are Ned Bryant of 
New York, now. 

That is just why I did it, Charlie, for, with 
that tell-tale beard on my face every trooper 
in the Union army would recognize me and 
I would receive but little rest, for, as you 
know, they have all heard of the Chicamauga 
occurrence. See, my picture is in the news- 
papers. 

Carlos Vivanco — (As his eyes fall on Ned.) Tell me, Miguel, 
where have I seen the face of that cavalero 
before? (Points to Ned.) 

Miguel Vivanco — ( Turns and glances at Ned^ a deep scoivl 
covering his face.) That is Ned Bryant, as 
ray name is Miguel Vivanco. {Rises and 
moves toward Ned.) We have met at last, 
you Gringo cur. (Burls his gaunllel inlo 
Ned's face.) 

Ned Bryant — (Rises la his feel.) You might have spared 
yourself the trouble of picking up your 
gauntlet. Your insulting words are enough 
to make a man fight you if he were nothing 
but a bootblack, let alone a soldier. Which 
shall it be, sword or pistol. I give you the 
advantage of choice. 



— 60- 



MlGUEL VlVANCO- 



Charles Ford — 



Miguel Vivanco- 



Ned Bryant — 
Onlookers — 
Miguel Vivanco- 



Ned Bryant — 
Charles Ford- 



Ned Bryant — 



-Let our seconds settle that. (^Charlie and 
Carlos drop hack, and after a short conver- 
sation^ advance.) 

We have decided that the foils would be 
more appropriate, considering the situa- 
tion. ( Waiters clear the Uoor of tables and 
chairs^ lock the doors and draio the Minds. 
Onlookers form a half circle in the hack- 
ground to tvitness the comhat.) 
-Well, let it be so. Ned Bryant, make 
your peace with God. You are about to 
fight your last battle. I am somewhat more 
of an artist than at the time of our former 
meeting. 

( Smiles coolly ; throws off his cloak.) Senor, 
are you ready? 

( Sees White Eagle on his shirt. Simultan- 
eously.) The White Eagle! 
-{Starts^ hut quickly recovers himself.) So, 
you are the White Eagle, are you ? I'll clip 
your wings and pluck your plumage. When 
I am through with you, you will not sosar so 
high above your fellowmen. 
(Smiles coolly.) Well, let's have at it. 
Time! {They cross swords., and after a 
desperate conflict.^ Ned. disarms Vivafico. 
Onlookers applaud and express themselves 
in such expressions as ^'BravoV ''Good!'''' 
^* Well done!'''' etc., as either comhatant 
makes a good stroke or successful guard.) 
( Raises his Made as to slay., hut hesitates.) 
jNo! I will not send such a miserable 
wretch into eternity. Miguel Vivanco, 
though ruffian that you are, 1 spare your 
life a second time. If you ever cross my 
path again, I will kill you. The third time 
is geneially t he chartn. Go! Curtain^ 



ACT V — Scene 1. 

In the Bryant mansion. The war is over; Richmoid has 
fallen. Nell, .Martin, and Lasca in drawing room. Tables. 



-61- 

Nelson Griggs — (Enters.) Mr. Bryant, a couple of gentle- 
men. ( Vivanco and Carlos enter.) 

Miguel VivANco — (On seeinc/ Lasca.) So, this is where you 
have been for the past three or tour years, 
is it? Well, prepare yourself to go back 
where you belong. 

Lasca Lopez — 1 have not the least idea of going back 
with you, Senor Vivanco; for I am happy 
here, and, glad to say, among friends. 

Carlos Vivanco — A nice way you deserted me, after having 
promised to become my wife. 

Lasca Lopez — Tis a falsehood ! I never made any such a 
promise. I would rather die than wed such 
a being as you are. 

Carlos Vivanco — Do not get so insulting, or I may do that 
for which I will be sorry. 

Lasca Lopez — Would you so degrade yourself as to impose 
upon a woman? If there was a young man 
around, perhaps, you would be a little mor© 
careful of your language in the presence of 
ladies, ^ou have no claim on me. I owe 
neither of you anything. I was treated 
worse than the lowest peon in your house- 
hold. Besides, I am now of age. and am 
my own mistress. Instead of me being in- 
debted to you, it is just the reverse. All 
you have belongfs to me. 

Miguel Vivanco — {Starts hack in amazement, and in an un- 
steady voice.) Why, the girl must be crazy. 

Lasca Lopez — Oh, no; I'm not, Senor. You know as well 
as I do that I am not crazy. Because I will 
not permit you to make a fool out of me, 
I am crazy, am I? Well, when this thing 
comes up before the court, you will find me 
to be the most sensible lunatic that it has 
ever been your chance to fall in with. 

Miguel Vivanco — Well, we shall see, Senorita. Perhaps, 
you will change your mind when I am 
through with you. 

Lasca Lopez — No ! I will never change my mind. 

Miguel Vivanco — (To 'Martin.) Sir, has your daughter yet 



—62— 

mo.de up her mind to content herself as my 
wife? 

Martin Bryant — There she is, Senor. The girl can speak for 
herself. 

Miguel Vivanco — (To JVelh) WelJ, Senorita ; your answer? 

Nell Bryant— Senor Vivanco, you already have my 
answer. My mind has not changed since 
L'^st we met. So, please do not mention it 
ao;ain. My love is given to another. 

Miguel Vivanco — But it will never be realized ; I myself saw 
him die in the hospital at Chattanooga, 
after the battle of Chicamauga. And 
your proud brother spent his last hours in a 
Confederate prison. The last battle in 
which he spread his wings was that of Mis- 
sionary Ridge. 

Nell Bryant — Senor, why do you so taunt me? {'^Becomes 
faint) 

Lasca Lopez — It is a lie, Nell ! Don't you believe a word 
of it ; that man ^s incapable of the truth. 

Carlos Vivanco — (plside to Miguel Vivanco.) You have 
struck a tender spot, Miguel. Just keep 
that up and she will weaken. 

Martin Bryant — Senor Vivanco, if you persist in this, I 
will be forced to order you out of the house- 
Ihat girl has had trouble enough on your 
account, without any more of your lies 

Miguel Vivanco — So, you, too, have turned traitor, have you? 
Well, I am sorry to say, your investment 
has been a total failure. AH would have 
been well had the south come out on top. 
For it was with them I did most of my 
dealing. Theirs is a lost cause, and so is 
your money. True, I have their paper, but 
it is worthless. ( 2o Nell.) Who will save 
you now, my proud beauty? ( Vivanco ad- 
vances toward Nell; Carlos toward Lasca.) 

Charles Ford — (Enters.) I will ! you cowardly cur. If 
you dare lay hands on either of these 
ladies, I will make mincemeat out of both 
of you. See ! 



63- 

Nell Bryant — Charlie ! But where is Ned? 

Charles Ford — Oh, don't worry about him, Nell. He had 
to look after some government property 
and will be here very shortly. Nell, the 
fog has risen and the black feet have near- 
ly all dropped in the rear. 

Nelson Griggs — {Enter.) Ladies and gentlemen, I have the 
honor of announcing Col. Ned Bryant, bet- 
ter known as the White Eagle, of the Union 
Army. (^Orchestra plays a soft march.) 
{Ned Bryant enter ^ followed hy Barney % 
with musket on his shoulder.) 

Charles Ford — See? The ship sails smoothly into port. 

Nell and Lasca — {^imidtaneously) Ned ! 

Ned Bryant — {Catches Nell and Lasca, one in each arm. 
Kisses both.) Yes, it is really Ned ! 

Martin Bryant — My son, my son, at last, thank God ! Ed- 
ward, can you ever forgive me for what I 
did! 

Ned Bryant — Father, let by-gones be by-gones. I love 
you the same as I ever did. 

Barney O'Neil — {Stands hy the door loith his eye 07i Vi- 
vanco. Vivanco tries to escape. Barney 
covers him with his musket.) Hould on, you 
snake, we are not yet done with you. 

Ned Bryant — {To Vivanco.^ Senor Vivanco, I spared 
your life twice, and I told you if vou ever 
crossed my path again I would show you no 
mercy ! Now, I would like to know what 
brings you here? 

Nelson Griggs — Mr. Bryant, an officer of the peace. 

Officer — {Enters with u^arrant.) I have a warrant 

for the arrest of Carlos Vivanco. He is 
charged with the murder of two gold pros- 
pectors on American territory. I am told 
he is in this house. 

Ned Bryant — There he is {^pointing to Carlos) I was an 
eye witness of the murder. The two pros- 
pectors were my companions. 

Barney O'Neil — {Shifts gun la hear on Carlos.) 

Carlos Vivanco — ( To Ned) Curse you ! 



-64- 

Officer — (Goes lo put handcuffs 071 Carlos. Vivanco 

7nakes a dive at Mm with a knife almost 
the same instant. The face of Dona Mar- 
tinez appears at a window. :/l pistol cracks, 
and Vivanco falls, face downward, on the 
floor.) 

Dona Martinez — {Rushes into room.. Bends over Vivanco.) 
Revenge ! Revenge at last ! Ha ! Miguel 
Vivanco, you have betrayed the confidence 
of the wonaan that loved you, and well you 
have paid the penalty. (Laughs like a 
maniac) I killed him. Of course I did. 
Who else had a better right to his life. His 
life cannot pay the penalty of half his 
crimes. Take me, Mr, Officer, I am ready 
to die. My revenge has been gratified and 
my mission on earth fulfilled. 

Officer — I have no right to arrest you. Had you not 

shot the Mexican, he would certainly have 
stuck that knife between my ribs. (Exit 
with Carlos in custody.) 

Dona Martinez — Then I will go and leave you — you who have 
new-found happiness. Your lives are to be 
lives of love and joy, mine one of misery 
and want, and all because of that man at 
my feet. I told him that his life would pay 
the penalty. Ha, ha, ha ! How well I have 
carried out my threats ! 

Nell Bryant — But, madam, if money ^ill supply your 
wants, I will see that you are not destitute. 
Go up stairs to your old room »and frnm this 
on try to live a respectable life. That man 
was not worthy of your love. 

Dona Martinez — Miss Nell, you have touched the tender side 
of my nature. That is the first word of 
kindness that I have heard since I left 
this house, nearly five years ago. 

Ned Bryant — And where have you been all that time? 

Dona Martinez— Where have I been? That man ( Vivanco) 
and one Geo. Coles are the only two per- 
sons pxGepting;/an ugly, big, black wom'^n, 



-66— 

who waited on me, who knew of my where- 
abouts. I have been shut up in a single 
room for close onto five year?. {Pointing 
to Vivaiico'^s dead hody.) That man and 
Coles are the only two people I have to 
blame for my misery. Kindness will work 
wonders with me. Miss Nell, your kind 
words will make me try to be a better woman 
From today on I will change my ways and 
begin life over again, where I left off when 
I met that scoundrel. (Exit) 

Sam — {In hall.) No, sar, I say you' can't go in dar ; 

get out o' hyah, or dis nigger is gwane to git 
mad and done frow you out. 

Geo. Coles — {In lialL) For God's sake, let me come in. 
I have a secret. 

g^M Well, I'll go see Massa Bryant, but 1 

dun know? he ain't gwan a let no fool 
man in hyah wots dun got a fit. (Sam comes 
rushing into room.) Say, Massa Bryant, 
dars some feller dun got a fit or de delirum 
trimbling out hyah, and is death bent on 
comin' in hyah. He says he is got a secret 
to told you. 

Martin Bryant — Help him in, Sam. It may be something 
important. {Going out Sa7)i runs into 
Barney; gives Sam his hand.) Well, gee 
whiz! If it ain't Barney dun gone come 
back. 

Barney O'Neil — How aire you, Black Diamond? 

Sam — Don't squeeze ma hand so hard, boss. I 

must bring in a man wots got a fit. {Exit,) 

Geo. Coles — (Assisted hy Sam,^slaggers into the room, 
a physical wreck.) Quick, where is Mr. 
Bryant? I have a confession to make. Vi- 
vanco is the forger, instead of your son 
Ned. Ned, Ned, quick ! I am going very 
fast! (Tulls papers from Ms hosom, and 
hands them lo ^ed.) These papers show 
your Lasca to be the mistress of the Vivaneo 
estate. They also prove her parentage. I 



—66- 



Nell Bryant — 



stumbled upon them by ckance while at 
that worthy's den. Now I die in peace. 
Pray for my soul ! My life has paid the 
penalty of my crimes. Lead me out, Sam ! 
Let me die in the open air ! ( Sam leads 
him out.) 

The last ship of the black fleet has disap- 
peared, and the our ship has at last reached 
port. In the person of the White Eagle my 
vision is fulfilled, for this is the happiest 
day of my life. 

Lasca, if you are agreed, I claim you as my 
wife. 

With all my heart, Ned. 
A.nd Nell I claim you as mine. That is, 
with your father's consent. 
Martin Bryant — Yes, take her, my boy, and as for you, Ned, 
the White Eagle could not, in all this wide 
world, find a nobler mate. God bless you, 
my children, and may yoc prosper ! (Cur- 
lai7i.) FINIS. 



Ned Bryant — 

Lasca Lopez- 
Charles FORD- 



LofC. 



MAY 13 1901 



